Building Homes for Heroes and Lennar Gift a Forever Home in New Jersey November 25, 2025
On a beautiful November afternoon in Manchester Township, New Jersey, the community gathered to honor an American hero with a life-changing gift: a place to call home.
Army Sergeant First Class Bertalan Gonci devoted more than two decades to our country, following the proud legacy of his father, an Army Ranger who served in Vietnam. As a Combat Infantryman and Paratrooper, SFC Gonci completed four combat deployments—two to Iraq and two to Afghanistan—leading soldiers as a Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, and Platoon Leader.
His service came at a tremendous personal cost. Years of combat and the trauma of war left SFC Gonci with combat-related PTSD, a traumatic brain injury, chronic migraines, and significant injuries to his knees and spine. Yet through it all, he remained defined not by hardship, but by courage and commitment.
On this bright Friday afternoon, that commitment was honored. Surrounded by supporters, SFC Gonci and his wife, Alaina, received the gift of a custom-built home from Building Homes for Heroes and Lennar—an enduring thank-you for his extraordinary service and sacrifice. Just days earlier, volunteers from Lowe’s spent hours beautifying the property, donating their time and craftsmanship to welcome the Gonci family home.
Today, after years spent protecting our freedom, Bertalan and his family finally have a place where they can call home and build their future.