Giving back to the community is one of my core beliefs. I’m currently focusing on the three areas.
Our Veterans:
My uncle fought in World War II in Europe; my father served during the Korein War. My father-in-law in Vietnam and my brother-in-law in the middle east. Without Veterans we have nothing. We must take care of them. Allenforce helps our veterans, and their families transition back to our communities.
Helping Veterans and their families to transition through health, fitness, and recreation. Empowering current and former Service Members, families, and communities with knowledge for healthy integration and lifelong camaraderie.
Supporting Families:
Having a child travel far away for medical treatment is something that is hard on the family. Not only do they have to deal with the illness and treatment, they have to relocate to do so. I was in this position with one of my daughters traveling three hours away for treatment and multiple hospitalizations. I did not use the services of Ronald McDonald house, but it would have been much easier if I did. I got introduced to the charity though my previous employer and got to visit multiple houses and attended many benefits and events supporting them. They are an excellent charity that helps so many families.
Ronalds McDonald House Charity (donate)
Housing, Support, and Community So Families with Sick Children Can Stay Together
Homelessness:
One cold winter day, I got a call from on my daughter’s teachers. He was volunteering at a local homeless shelter and asked if I would help him. It was a one night a week shelter in the basement of a local church. They had to set it up and take it down one day a week. I went the next morning before work not really knowing what to expect. It was an eye opener for me. The National Alliance to end homelessness reports that according to the January 2022 PIT Count, 582,462 people were experiencing homelessness across America. This amounts to roughly 18 out of every 10,000 people. The vast majority (72 percent) were individual adults, but a notable share (28 percent) were people living in families with children. I’ve seen families and individuals caught in this endless homelessness cycle. We must do better; we can do better. I support DuPage Pads. They run multiple shelters and provide services to get homeless people back on their feet.
The mission of DuPagePads is to end homelessness in DuPage County, Illinois. Our signature year-round programs feed and shelter individuals and families who are homeless, connect them to case management and other services that can address the underlying cause of their homelessness.
The past two years I have also helped support Adam Sandoval’s Great American Convoy. I will be joining a leg or two of this trip this year, more information in my blog as we work through the details. Very excited to be raising money for the wounded warrior project again this year!