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January 2017

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Hand in Hand With The Community

January 20, 2017
Michael & Son
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*Due to the 2017 inauguration coverage this Saturday, Episode 1 of Helping Hands has been rescheduled for Saturday, February 4th at 9:30am*

Michael & Son Services continues to give back to the community through its “Michael & Son Cares Program”. In the last few months we have received hundred of applications from people all over VA, MD and DC who are in need of assistance with essential home repairs they can not afford. The popularity of the TV show “Helping Hands”, coupled with the harsh economic climate, has applications pouring in every week. While Michael & Son would like to assist each and every family who reaches out to us, we cannot. Instead we can try to influence and inspire other businesses to do the same. At Michael & Son, we believe it is the responsibility of businesses to help people in the community during their time of need. Much like a politician must serve the constituents in his/her community, a business is obligated to do the same for those that keep their doors open.

While nearly all businesses, small and large, make some sort of contributions to charitable organizations, Michael & Son prefers to be more hands on. Being able to meet the families, see their homes and hear their stories makes for a very rewarding experience. While Michael & Son makes many contributions to charitable organizations, the one on one experience of the Cares Program has proven to be the most rewarding. The smiles on the faces of our Cares Recipientsare far more valuable than any award or citation we could receive.

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The popularity of the TV show “Helping Hands”, coupled with the harsh economic climate, has applications pouring in every week.

The Cares Program is an extension of the Michael & Son philosophy. Community service is simply part of our culture as a company. While in the early days of Michael & Son there was no Program designated for community service, the company was always willing to lend a Helping Hand. The beginning of the Cares Program may have dated back to the early 1990’s when a young Basim Mansour (Proud Son and Owner of Michael & Son) was on a call to a home with no power. When Basim arrived he found a small, cramped one level home inhabited by young children and the elderly. It was the dead of winter and the family sat huddled around a rickety space heater. One look at the panel box and Basim knew he was dealing with a very involved and costly job. He also knew that the cost would be well beyond the families means. After speaking with the homeowner, Basim’s instincts proved to be accurate. The family would not be able to afford the work, let alone the small, nominal dispatch fee.

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“That moment was one of the most uplifting experiences of my life; ever since then I’ve been chasing that feeling”.

Basim knew he could not leave the family without power and heat but he also knew Michael & Son (at the time) was in no position to be working pro-bono. Basim decided to seek advice from the one man he could always turn to for advice, his late father, Mike. After explaining the situation to his father, he received the advice that he had been waiting to hear. “There is no question about it, make sure the family has heat and power before you leave tonight. It’s our obligation to give back to the community, where would we be without them?” said Basim’s father. Following the phone call, Basim would proceed to work through the night repairing the family’s electrical problem. “When I flipped the switch and the heat kicked on, the faces of the children lit up with joy and their mother began to cry” said Mansour. “That moment was one of the most uplifting experiences of my life; ever since then I’ve been chasing that feeling”.

At Michael & Son, service goes beyond turning a wrench or snaking a drain. It means being woven into the fabric of the community and making a difference every chance we get. We hope that through the work we do, others will be inspired to reach out to those in need. If you or someone you know is in need of help, please contact us by following the Helping Hands link on the Michael & Son homepage. Also, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube page and find out about special events, great savings and much more!

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Triumph Over Adversity – The Alvin King Story

January 16, 2017
Michael & Son
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The Michael & Son Cares Program, which helps families with home repairs they cannot afford, recently met a very inspirational young man named Alvin King. Alvin was born with no arms or legs and reached out to the Cares Program for assistance with a faulty and dangerous hot water heater. After meeting Alvin King and his mother, The Michael & Son Cares Program repaired the water heater, then went above and beyond to make Alvin and his mother’s life a little bit easier.

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Since the day he was born Alvin King has struggled with adversity. During his mother’s pregnancy, Alvin‘s mother was given a little known drug for nausea with many unknown consequences which were not expressed by her doctor. One rare side effect of the medication was limb loss during the pregnancy term. As as result, Alvin was born with no arms or legs.

Despite the monumental challenges Alvin faces, he always keeps a positive outlook on life and works hard at being as independent as possible. Alvin is able to lift weights, negotiate flights of stairs and even play basketball. One difficulty both Alvin and his mother have been unable to overcome has been transportation. Without a handicapped accessible vehicle, traveling by car is described by Alvin as “painful and dangerous”, causing Alvin to miss physical therapy appointments, family gatherings and most importantly to Alvin, church. IMG_2408

After meeting Alvin King for the first time, Proud Son and owner of Michael & Son Services Basim Mansour decided he would purchase a handicapped accessible van for the King family. “I’ve met a lot of truly amazing people in my life but no one quite like Alvin” said Basim Mansour, Proud Son and Owner of Michael and Son Services. “I found the few hours I spent with Alvin and his mother to be so rewarding, I felt compelled to pay him back” continued Mansour.

See the full story on the Series Premiere of NBC Helping Hands, returning Saturday, January 21st at 9:30am. Check your local listings for airtimes and also, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube page to watch full episodes of Helping Hands on demand!

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Michael & Son Helping Hands Provides Heat to Little Girl In Need

January 10, 2017
Michael & Son
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For all of us at Michael & Son who have worked with the Helping Hands Program, December 23rd is solemn day. Three years ago on that day, in the midst of all the holiday cheer, we lost someone who had a profound effect on all of us. Amanda Mahmood was a young, bright and inspirational young lady who suffered from congestive heart failure. We helped her with some home repairs and in return she inspired us to help more families and make a bigger impact.

Three years later, and just a week after that anniversary of Amanda’s passing, a call comes across my desk from a single mother of a disabled child in Richmond, VA with a broken HVAC unit. Recently widowed Cari Browne and her daughter Savannah had been in the cold since Christmas morning and because Cari was providing 24 hour care for her daughter, she was unable to work and definitely couldn’t afford the cost of replacing her homes HVAC unit.

Her daughter, Savannah, was born with a rare gene mutation that caused her to have heart failure as well. The cold temperature in her home was aggravating her condition and they were in desperate need of help. When I spoke with Cari and we talked about Savannah’s condition, I immediately thought of Amanda. It gave the request even more of a sense of urgency and I called Michael & Son CEO, Basim Mansour, who was traveling but gave the green light to have the work done immediately. Within just two days of contacting Michael & Son Services, we were at the Browne’s home installing a brand new HVAC system at no cost. Check out the news story for more details about the job. Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page for information on the new season of Helping Hands starting January 21st!

TV Schedule:

1/21: 9:30-10 AM

2/4: 9:30-10 AM

2/11: 9:30-10 AM

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