photos courtesy Grand Endeavor Homes
On March 28, in the heart of The Preserve at Elm Creek in New Braunfels, an enthusiastic crowd gathered and applauded as the ribbon was cut on a new house built by Grand Endeavor Homes and belonging to SSGT José Rivera, USMC (Ret) and his family. The event wasn’t just an exchange of keys; it was the realization of a dream orchestrated by a beloved Georgetown native known for his profound sense of duty and compassion — the late Jimmy Jacobs.
Jimmy was known for his humility and generosity and was the visionary behind Grand Endeavor Homes. He dedicated his career to building superlative quality houses and designing homes that embraced the needs and hopes of everyone who lived in them.
Jimmy’s son Justin, now leading Grand Endeavor Homes, says, “Supporting the veteran community has been close to our hearts since we began building homes more than 30 years ago. We have worked with several organizations to build homes for veterans throughout Central Texas and are always looking for ways to give back to our community.” Jimmy’s most recent collaboration with Helping a Hero, a non-profit dedicated to supporting veterans, began almost as soon as the company started developing The Preserve. Justin adds, “We knew right away we wanted a part of this beautiful property to be a peaceful haven for a deserving family.” So, after two years of relationship building and a few months of construction, Jimmy’s inspiration culminated in the gift of a fully adapted home for a wounded hero.
FORTUITOUS CONNECTION
SSGT Rivera’s journey was marked by serendipity, survival, and a positive attitude. He enlisted after narrowly escaping tragedy on 9/11, having turned around on his commute to New York City to retrieve a forgotten badge. His military service was distinguished but after an IED detonated a nearby vehicle and injured his leg, he underwent 17 surgeries and rehab before doctors decided to amputate his lower leg.
Jimmy and José met in 2022 at a fundraiser. José, always friendly and luminous, had been nominated to receive a home by another veteran and, unbeknownst to José, Jimmy was there to decide which veteran he would commit to helping personally. Jimmy’s wife Sheila says, “Once they met, Jimmy felt there was a definite need for wheelchair accessibility. Although José suffered, he is a sweet, grateful, positive person, like Jimmy, which was what he connected with.”
José recalls, “Jimmy had a big impact on me from the first moment. He walked up and said, ‘I think I’m here to talk to you about a house you’re going to get.’ I only knew I had been nominated so he laughed and told me not to tell anyone and ruin the surprise. He was just glowing and so happy to meet me even though I didn’t really know what was going on.” José agrees their heartwarming mix-up was a great testament to Jimmy’s “good humor and beautiful aura.”
The design of the Riveras’ new home showcases Jimmy’s meticulous attention to detail and dedication to accessibility. This particular design has proved highly successful in enhancing the lives of individuals like José. Sheila notes, “Jimmy allowed Helping a Hero to use his plan more than 70 times nationwide. Due to its success, he later made the plan available to them for broader use, ensuring their efforts would benefit more veterans across the country.”
Justin also added his thanks and admiration for all the individuals and companies that helped make the project a success. “It was truly remarkable how all of our trade partners stepped up and wanted to help with the construction of this home. Without their support and contributions, this would not have been possible.”
Through smiles and tears, Sheila shared touching anecdotes about her husband’s motivations and the personal connection he felt with José. “Jimmy saw a reflection of his own values in José’s resilience and optimism,” she says. “This connection was not just professional but deeply personal, rooted in a shared understanding of sacrifice and always looking for the good despite life’s challenges.”
When José and his family crossed the threshold of their new home, the crowd erupted in applause. Justin says, “Jimmy set the foundation and standard of servicing the community as a core mission. We, as a family at Grand Endeavor Homes, embrace that belief and will continue to fulfill the mission. These are core values for us as a company and will not change. We are always looking for ways to help others and will continue to integrate giving back as one of the guiding principles of our company.”