Sound and Communications Magazine
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Sound and Communications Magazine
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D-Tools, NanoLumens and IT and Media Solutions

The Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence & Supporting Empowerment) program, now in its third year, builds Smart Homes for physically wounded warriors that include automated amenities to ease the challenges they face and to help restore their independence. Since its 2011 inception, the foundation has built (or is in the process of building) more than 30 smart homes for wounded American heroes.

D-Tools donated it’s SIX Integrator Software to the cause. “R.I.S.E. integrators are donating their time to this incredible cause, and by facilitating their workflow with our SIX software, we endeavor to make these projects run more smoothly—saving everyone time and with the ultimate goal of getting these veterans into their homes faster,” said Adam Stone, President and CEO of D-Tools. “It’s the least we can do for those who have done so much for us.” All processes associated with the installation and integration of the R.I.S.E. home’s low-voltage systems are handled by D-Tools SIX.

The first R.I.S.E. project to use the D-Tools SIX software is located in Texas. Key players included Joel Berrettini of IT and Media Solutions and Lead Systems Integrator for the Gary Sinise Foundation, who procured the donated gear/labor and coordinated the entire project. Local businesses, including the Builder Security Group (BSG) and Bjorn’s Audio Video, donated both time and labor. The Texas R.I.S.E. project for this particular wounded warrior makes his life more independent through the use of automated shades, multi-zone thermostats for the veteran’s health conditions, iPad integration, wireless locks with separate codes for caregivers, a comprehensive security system, a state-of-the-art media room and more.

Berrettini also reached out to NanoLumens CEO Rick Cope about the R.I.S.E. program’s effort to build a smart home in Columbus GA for wounded warrior Mike Schlitz. Cope served for more than 20 years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps in a career that concluded with him serving as Special Operations Advisor to General Norman Schwarzkopf during the Desert Storm campaign in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq, and he jumped at the chance to get involved with such a worthy cause.

“I was approached by Joel Berrettini of IT and Media Solutions to see if I could help open up some doors at the major hardware manufacturers we work with,” Cope explained. “I knew I had to do something because the new home wouldn’t be complete without some HD television displays.” NanoLumens donated three LED HD displays for Schlitz’s new home, which was formally dedicated on October 31, 2014.

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