Christmas Comes To 2 Families In Dire Need & ALS Research
Despite 40 years with ALS that confines him to a wheelchair, Dr. Stephen Hawking’s determination to go into space inspired a donation to aid ALS research ; two single-parent families get Christmas surprises thanks to staff’s generosity.
February 12, 2008
Christmas Donation To 2 Families, Lou Gehrig’s Disease Research, Continues ‘Give Back’ Philosophy By NetEffects Staff
(RIGHT) NetEffects volunteers hard at working wrapping gifts for two needy families we adopted at Christmas.
As part of its corporate philosophy, NetEffects has decreed that it will play an important role in “giving back” to the community, indirectly by supporting our client’s charitable efforts and directly by supporting at least one charity each quarter of each year.
Closing out the final quarter of 2007 was in typical NetEffects fashion: do just a bit more!
• Making Christmas a real holiday for children
As part of our annual adopting a family in real need at Christmas, the NetEffects family is asked to pitch in, and pitch in they did. Setting a record this year, we raised $2,570. So instead of adopting one family, this year we adopted two families, both of them headed by single moms, and both moms working to further their education so that they could better provide for their families in the future.
Mom #1 has three children, a 13-year old boy and girls 11 and 9. Because the 11 year old has severe, chronic asthma requiring frequent trips to the doctor, her employer fired her. While trying to find another job, she decided to enroll in the Junior College to study medical billing and coding in order to find a more stable job health benefits and with flexible work hours so she can tend to her daughter needs.
With little money there was nothing for Christmas…so NetEffects stepped in a purchased three twin bed and all the bedding for the children, which they desperately needed, two outfits and underwear for all the children, coats, hats and gloves — and toys — for everyone.
For mom, cash to help with her bills while she struggles to get an education and get on her feet.
Mom #2 is a 20-year old with a one-year old son. She is working and going to school in order to be a good role model for her son. But after paying rent and utilities, she had only $400 to last the month. Her goal is to be able to raise her son in a drug-free environment and to not ever be homeless.
Her wish: a tricycle for her son, some clothes and toys. She requested nothing for herself. NetEffects not only fulfilled those wishes, but also some clothes for mom and her son, a warm blanket for mom and several boxes of food staples.
And it was topped off with a Christmas tree with all the trimmings!
“The NetEffects family has made some families in need very happy this Christmas. Thanks to all for their help,” said Philanthropy Chairperson Michelle Zipfel, whose “real” job is director of operations.
• Helping fight Lou Gehrig’s disease
(ABOVE) Jack and Dr. Stephen Hawking before their special flight last year that simulated zero gravity conditions in space.
(BELOW) St. Louis ALS Association Executive Director Bob Wessels (center) accepts a check for $5,408 from NetEffects President Jack Bader while Philanthropy Chairperson Michelle Zipfel (our operations manager) accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from the Association.
Last year, President/CEO Jack Bader had the opportunity to meet world-renowned theoretical physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking who, even though suffering from ALS for 40 years, was part of a special flight simulating actual weightlessness in which Jack also participated.
ALS affects muscle control, (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous baseball player who died from it), forcing Dr. Hawking (called the greatest physicist since Albert Einstein) to be confined to a wheelchair and speak using a computerized voice synthesizer. Nevertheless, he wants to fly to space and this was his first step.
Moved by Dr. Hawking's courage, NetEffects sponsored a first charity fund-raising golf tournament last fall with the proceeds going to the local ALS chapter for research.
With a matching donation from NetEffects, we raised a total of $5,408 for the on-going fight to find a cure for ALS.