Maureen Tedesco
We received a call from another family we had helped letting us know that Maureen Tedesco, a teacher at Phillip and James Elementary School had just lost her husband to cancer and had a medically handicapped child, and was battling to keep her house. We reviewed her many bills and expenses and coordinated with several other organizations to provide support. Headstrong Lacrosse coordinated pro bono landscaping services. Pepper Hamilton LLP connected Maureen with an attorney to negotiate terms with the mortgage company. Despite our best efforts, Maureen lost her home. Great Guys found real estate agents to help her in her search for a house that would accommodate her daughter’s needs. Great Guys paid several months rent in advance. In doing so, we helped provide comfort, security and warmth to a family that had experienced more than a reasonable amount of challenges within a single year.
Jenny
A 16-year old girl in Chester County Pennsylvania was in treatment for throat cancer. Because of the type of cancer and treatments she was under, it was no longer possible for her to attend school. We learned of Jenny’s situation through other people and were moved to provide relief to her family. In a conversation with Jenny’s parents, it was clear they were reluctant to accept money for expenses. But as we talked, they mentioned her desire to continue to attend classes over the Internet, which was wasn’t working out with her old computer equipment. Jenny was disappointed because she didn’t want to fall behind in her studies. The required technolgoy would be a big stretch for the family. Great Guys offered to get Jenny a new computer so she and her parents knew she could keep up with her studies and maintain a sense of normalcy. This is what Great Guys strives to do. We went to Best Buy in Concordville DE, where the manager helped us select a computer, printer and service contract so she can maintain as close to a normal high school kid’s school life as possible.
Roseanne Konstantinides
We received notice about an elderly woman in suburban Philadelphia who had been bedridden for weeks and was unable to use a regular wheelchair to get out of bed. She was completely reliant on the strength of her family to be mobile. Great Guys was able to deliver a wheelchair with removable sides that met her needs. Her family is grateful for the impact this has had on her quality of life, “Now she is able to eat at the kitchen table, read the paper in the living room and enjoy her family and watch the Phillies. It is simply amazing what it does to one’s spirit when you are not limited to four walls. She has been very thankful and all thanks to the Great Guys!”
Lee Ann D’Angelo
Dear Paul and Staff,
I sincerely thank the Great Guy Group for their generous contribution to the D’Angelo family. We received a phone call from Paul Isenberg stating that we were nominated by a family friend to benefit from this amazing organization. My husband died of Melanoma at age 41, and left two beautiful legacies: Marc who is 15 and Matthew who is 12. They lost their best friend, and we all lost a courageous, strong, outstanding husband, friend to many and positive example of the human spirit to all. Marc D’Angelo was an inspiration to a foundation such as the Great Guy Group. This group supports the resiliency and tenacity it takes to undergo cancer treatments, and all the associated costs. Paul introduced himself and proceeded to say that their group helps families who have suffered with cancer. He was so very kind and said, “Is there anything we can do to lessen your burden?” This guy was very persistent and genuinely wanted to help the boys and me. I could not believe it when he made the kind offering of a mortgage payment and wanted to contribute towards family counseling to help deal with the pain we are all experiencing.
The kindness and dedication that this group has demonstrated to us speaks to what a great guy group this really is. Our family has been blessed to be aligned with this charitable establishment. Thank you from a family that will never give up. People like you continue to renew the strength of those who have suffered from this terrible disease.
Sincerely,
Lee Ann D’Angelo