Dream Finders Homes Donates Mortgage-Free “Stadium Home” to Local 9/11 Combat Veteran

Jacksonville, FL (April 16, 2026) – Dream Finders Homes today donated a new mortgage-free home to local U.S. Army veteran Sgt. David J. McLaughlin and his family, in partnership with Five STAR Veteran Center. The new home, located on North Liberty Street in Jacksonville, is a near replica of the original “Stadium Home” built inside the gates of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ EverBank Stadium.

The home was formally dedicated during a community event attended by representatives from Dream Finders Homes, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Five STAR Veteran Center, the City of Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (FL-05) and U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean (FL-04). The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The two-story, 2,456-square-foot home continues the Stadium Home initiative, originally created to highlight Dream Finders Homes as the official homebuilder of the Jacksonville Jaguars while demonstrating the impact of public-private partnership.

“Dream Finders Homes was founded in Jacksonville,” said James Gomez, Regional President – Southeast, Dream Finders Homes. “The Stadium Home project reflects our long-term commitment to this community and to the men and women who have served.

It demonstrates what can be achieved when business, sports, and civic leaders work together. We are honored to provide Sgt. McLaughlin and his family with a new home that represents the strength and resilience of Jacksonville.”

Sgt. McLaughlin, a Jacksonville native, is a 9/11 combat veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the Afghanistan campaign and remains an active member of the U.S. Army Reserve. He and his three children will now call the Springfield neighborhood home.

Five STAR Veteran Center identified Sgt. McLaughlin and his family as the recipients. The organization supports veterans transitioning back into civilian life, with a focus on housing stability.

“At Five Star Veterans Center, our mission is to restore hope and independence through stability and purpose,” said Commander John Bear, Chief Executive Officer of Five STAR Veterans Center. “Sergeant McLaughlin’s journey is a powerful example of what can happen when a veteran is given the right support and refuses to give up. Through our partnership with Dream Finders Homes and the strength of the Jacksonville community, we are not just providing a house—we are helping a family build a future. This is what it means to truly ‘MAKE A DIFFERENCE.’”

The Jacksonville Jaguars helped bring the Stadium Home initiative to life and continue to support efforts that strengthen the community, including the ongoing revitalization of the Springfield area.

“Our city’s military heritage is deeply woven into the Jaguars’ DNA, and we are honored to help improve the lives of active and retired military and their families,” said Mark Lamping, president of the Jaguars. “In that spirit, it is a privilege to dedicate this home for Sgt. McLaughlin, providing lasting comfort and security to the McLaughlin family, just as he and his fellow heroes have done for all of us.”

This marks the second Stadium Home donated by Dream Finders Homes to a local Jacksonville veteran. The first is also located in Jacksonville’s historic Springfield district.

The original Stadium Home, constructed on City property inside Gate 4 at EverBank Stadium, generated national attention and demonstrated the impact of collaboration between private industry, professional sports, and the local Jacksonville government.

About Dream Finders Homes, Inc.

Dream Finders Homes, founded and headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, was recognized as the 2025 National Builder of the Year by Builder magazine. Dream Finders Homes builds single-family homes throughout the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, including Florida, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, which comprises Washington DC, Northern Virginia and Maryland. As the Official Home Builder of the PGA TOUR and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dream Finders Homes is deeply committed to excellence beyond homebuilding and into the communities it serves. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, DFH also provides mortgage financing as well as title agency and underwriting services to homebuyers. Dream Finders Homes achieves its industry-leading growth and returns by maintaining an asset-light homebuilding model.

About Five STAR Veterans Center

Five Star Veteran Center is a Jacksonville-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping at-risk and homeless veterans reintegrate into civilian society. Through housing, counseling, and supportive services, Five Star Veteran Center provides veterans with the tools and resources they need to build stable, independent lives.