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Charities Raise Funds To Build 'Smart Home' For Disabled Soldier

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A fundraiser was under way Saturday on Staten Island to benefit a severely wounded green beret.

As WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported, barbecue, beer, wine and entertainment were on the menu at the fundraiser at the Hillside Swimming Club.

Charities Raise Funds To Build 'Smart Home' For Disabled Soldier

The Steven Siller Foundation and Firefighters for America's Bravest were holding the fundraiser for Army Captain and West Point grad Green Beret Ben Harrow. He lost both legs and part of an arm when an improvised explosive device detonated in Afghanistan.

FDNY Battalion Chief John LaBarbera ran down the list of amenities in the smart home the fundraiser is geared toward financing for Harrow.

"Cabinets where you can use your iPad -- you press a button the inside of the cabinets come down so Ben can get a cup for his cup of coffee. We have tremendously wide aisles where he can maneuver around the home. He walks into a room the lights go on, he leaves the room the lights go off. The microwave is down very low where it's very convenient for him; sinks and stoves that come up and down," LaBarbera said.

In a year and a half, the foundation has built eight smart homes for severely wounded veterans. They plan to build more next year.

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