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A Breath of Fresh Air

September 15, 2015

Anthony and Michelle Hinton paced the ER as they waited for an update from the doctor on call. Although nights in the hospital were becoming a regular occurrence, the Hinton family dreaded every second; but no one likes having their child in the hospital, especially for breathing difficulties. The main culprit behind their child’s frequent asthma attacks was a faulty HVAC unit and filthy ducts. While it would seem that the problem would be easily remedied with a simple replacement unit and duct cleaning, for some families it’s just not that simple.

Anthony Hinton had proudly served his country for many years in the US Military. Before entering the service, Anthony was an outgoing young man who loved spending time outdoors, family gatherings and live sporting events. However, upon returning from his second tour overseas, something had changed inside him. Anthony began having panic attacks when in wide open spaces or enclosed areas. As time went on, his conditioned worsened and soon he was not able to work. Around the same time, his wife Michelle was diagnosed with severe arthritis and fibromyalgia. With two serious conditions attacking her joints and muscles, Michelle began losing her ability to work full time and before long found herself laid off and unable to work.

As the families health problems mounted, so did their bills. Soon, they were only able to meet their most basic obligations and things like home repairs went on the back burner. As their son began to experience more frequent and prolonged asthma attacks, the family took him to see a specialist where they learned poor indoor air quality was triggering the episodes. With that news, the family knew they could not wait any longer and reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program.

Want to find out what happened next? Tune into Helping Hands, Saturday at 7:30pm on NBC4 to see the whole story. Also, Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our Youtube page to find out about upcoming offers, special events and much more!

Season 4 Finale; Helping Hands

March 30, 2015

Michael & Son

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Over the past 5 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with families in our community as the head of the Michael & Son Cares Program. If you have not already heard of us, we are a local home improvement company that helps disadvantaged families with essential home repairs they cannot afford. From restoring heat to cold homes to surprise visits from celebrities; the Michael & Son Cares Program has brought smiles, tears and hope to dozens of recipients in the D.C., M.D., and V.A area. Not unlike Michael & Son Services, The Cares program has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 5 years. One of our proudest achievements regarding the Cares Program is the creation of the Helping Hands T.V. show, which documents the charitable work of the Cares Program.

The Cares Program, like Michael & Son Services, has modest beginnings. Today you can hardly drive a mile without seeing a signature blue Michael & Son truck. It was not always that way; in fact it all began with one van and a two man team. In 1968, Mousa “Mike” Mansour came to this country with a vision, to build a family business that his children could one day inherit. An electrician from an early age, Mousa’s natural inclination towards the trade was apparent in his work and he landed a Union Electrician job. On weekends and nights Mousa worked side jobs with his 6 year old son, Basim, tagging along as his pint sized apprentice. It was during those impressionable years of watching his father work that Basim Mansour learned the meaning of hard work, dedication and punctuality. He also learned the importance of giving back to the community that kept him in business. Mousa was not a wealthy man but a generous man nonetheless. He would never leave a family without power on a cold night because they couldn’t afford cost. To him, the smiles on the faces of those families he helped was worth far more than any amount of money. These instances that were witnessed by Basim left an indelible impression on him that would influence the way he would one day run his own business.

On June 1st 1990 Mousa “Mike” Mansour suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving his family and community devastated. At the young age of 19, Basim picked up where his father left off and began his own business, Michael & Son Services. Today the company has over 200 employees, offers comprehensive home services and spans four states and our nations capitol. As the business has grown, so has the number of Cares Program recipients. The CaresProgram reaches thousands of people each week through the local TV program “Helping Hands”, however, we hope to inspire more businesses and individuals to give back to their communities in any way they can. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit michaelandsonhelpinghands.com for more information.

Michael & Son Cares Program

Early Retirement, Gone Wrong

March 10, 2015

Michael & Son

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On a rainy night in Madonna Maryland, Delano Draine was making his way home to his wife. Delano was full of optimism, he was six months into his retirement, and ready for some long overdue relaxation.

A hard working man from a young age, Delano spent years in the military, eventually settling into a job as a corrections officer. The hours were long, the work was dangerous and the stress was tolling; Delano was glad to be done with it. As Delano weaved down the wet and winding road, he had no idea is life was about to change forever. Out of nowhere, a deer appeared in the middle of the road, Delano swerved to avoid it, but it was too late – everything went black.

When Delano opened his eyes, he was upside down strapped inside his car. “I felt a tremendous amount of pain, but was still able to fish my phone out of my pocket”. His first call was to 911, with the second being the hardest he’s ever had to make. Forty minutes away from where Delano lay suspended in his car, Shelley, his wife, was preparing a late dinner for two. Around 9:15 Shelley received a phone call that left her pale and trembling. The voice on the other end was her husband, he was badly hurt and being rushed to the hospital. Shelley grabbed her bag and raced out her door; she knew it was serious, but she had no idea Delano would never walk again.

Delano had nearly severed his spine and there was no hope for recovery, he would require a lifetime of around the clock care. Because the VA and other government agencies could not or would not provide him with the care he needed, Shelley was forced into early retirement and began the painful vocation of caring for a suffering loved one. Because of the ever mounting medical bills, the Draine’s were unable to afford home repairs that were essential to Delano’s well being. One of those repairs was to the homes furnace, and as the winter grew colder, it became critical that the family had a reliable heating system. That’s where The Michael & Son Cares Program stepped in. You can see the whole story this weekend, check the list below for show times in your area.

Washington DC WRC NBC4

3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM

Norfolk: WVEC

3/14 9:00 AM

Richmond WTVR

3/15 11:30 PM

Baltimore WMAR

3/14 6:30 PM

Charlottesville WVIR

3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM

Against All Odds

February 24, 2015

Michael & Son

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When Michele Pulaski gave birth to twins Josh and Sarah, she and her husband Jordan could only see a bright future for their family. A few weeks later, the clouds began to gather when Sarah was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Sarah’s meningitis caused massive brain damage and as a result she is now left a quadriplegic. She also suffers from epilepsy, hypothermia and is vision impaired. Sarah’s mother was told that she would never have cognitive functions beyond that of an infant. But against all odds, Sarah has defied her diagnosis and 8 years later she is learning to sing songs, play games, and brings a smile to everyone she meets!

Just when the family had begun to adjust to life with a disabled child, tragedy struck again. At the young age of 39, Jordan Pulaski was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease that affects only 200,000 people worldwide. As Jordans condition progressed he began to lose mobility and today, like his daughter Sarah, is quadriplegic and confined to a wheel chair.

Sarah and Jordan worked hard their entire lives and excelled in both their educations and careers. Unfortunately, because Jordan and Sarah require a lifetime of costly medical care, the family is saddled with debt and with both parents only able to work part time, the family was unable to afford essential home repairs.

After watching the NBC program “Helping Hands” the Pulaski’s reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program for help with a broken water heater and alterations to make their bathrooms handicap accessible. Michael & Son Services stepped in and provide the family with the all the home repairs at no charge.

Along with providing families with free home repairs,The Michael & Son Cares Program also surprised the family with special gifts like floor seats to Wizards games, organizing special events and even hospital visits from celebrities. The Pulaski family surprised everyone when they requested that in lieu of a gift, the Cares Program make a donation to their favorite charity, The National Epilepsy Foundation. Needless to say, everyone involved with the program was deeply touched by the families generosity and concern for others.

Helping Hands documents the work of the Michael & Son Cares Program and their community service program which provides free home repairs to those in need, local showtimes listed below.

Washington DC WRC NBC4

2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM

Norfolk: WVEC

2/28 9:00 AM

Richmond WTVR

2/29 11:30 PM

Baltimore WMAR

2/28 6:30 PM

Charlottesville WVIR

2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM

Michael & Son Cares Program

Rescued from the harsh winter!

February 17, 2015

Michael & Son

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Betty Parker sits on her front porch as four puppies vie for her attention at her feet. “There is a lot of suffering behind close doors” she says, gazing off into the horizon, “you can only suffer for so long before its time to ask for help.”

As a strong Boston-bred native living in Norfolk, Betty Parker takes great pride in her self reliance. “My father raised me to be independent; I can do anything a man can do” said Betty, “I can even make repairs around the house, to an extent.” That extent was reached when her water heater began to fail and her furnace died. At 67 years of age, Betty suffers from Parkinson’s disease; its slow, methodical march through her nervous system made even the simplest daily task a monumental undertaking. One of those tasks became boiling water multiple times a day for bathing, washing, and cooking.

Betty’s hands trembled under the oppressive weight of the large, cast iron cooking pot she carried over to the sink. She began to demonstrate the agonizing, painful ritual of filling the pot with water and lugging it down the hall and to the tub. As the temperatures began to plummet, Betty was faced with a new tribulation, the prospect of a heatless winter. Wringing her hands beside a small space heater, Betty sighed then smiled. “I’m not gonna complain, there are people out there a lot worse off than I am”.

Many people dismiss the idea of a guardian angel, but in todays cold and detached world, some just earn the title. Meet Sue, a life long native of Norfolk and friend of Betty. Sue has spent her life in service to those in need. Whether it was on an organizational level or personal, you’re sure to find Sue at the helm. When Sue realized that Betty was living without essential services in her home, she immediately sprung into action and immediately starting hitting walls. “Everyone has an excuse about why they can’t help but no one offers solutions.” Sue called just about every state agency and private charity in search of help for Betty, and when those attempts were fruitless she began calling local businesses. After calling nearly every home improvement company in her area, Sue was ready to throw her hands up in defeat. At that very moment something fateful occurred; Sue looked out of her window, and noticed a Michael & Son Services truck pulling into her neighbor’s driveway. She figured it was worth one last shot, and called the number on the truck. “I called on a Saturday and expected to just get a voicemail” said Sue, “but what happened next left me speechless,” she continued.

Sue contacted Michael & Son on a Saturday morning, and by the afternoon had secured heat and hot water for Betty’s home. “I’ve been dealing with not for profits and government agencies for decades now, and I’ve never seen a group work so fast” said Sue. “I knew right away that they genuinely cared about not only Betty, but the entire community around them” she continued.

Today, Betty Parker and her four dogs have a warm house with hot water, today there is one person suffering behind a closed door. The Michael & Son Cares Program is on a mission to not only help those in need, but to inspire others to do the same. We call upon every individual, business and organization with the means to make a difference to do just that.

If you would like to join us in our mission to make a difference, click here to find out how you can help. Also, if you or someone you know is in need of essential home repairs, visit us at michaelandson.com to learn how you can apply for the Michael & Son Cares Program. You can watch the Michael & Son Cares Program in action on the TV series “Helping Hands” every weekend, check below for local listings and air times.

Washington DC WRC NBC4

February 21st 9:30 AM

Norfolk: WVEC

February 21st 9:00 AM

Richmond WTVR

February 22nd 11:30 PM

Baltimore WMAR

February 21st 6:30 PM

Charlottesville WVIR

February 21st 9:30 AM

Michael & Son Cares Program

Michael and Son comes to rescue for single mom!

February 5, 2015

Michael & Son

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If you drive from the suburbs of D.C. and down through Northern Virginia, you’d hardly see any signs of the financial crisis that swept through the country. From the Mc Mansions of Fairfax and Arlington to the sprawling estates of Clifton; Northern Virginia has some of the wealthiest communities in the country. While there are many within those communities who are struggling, you could never tell from a glance. There is one place, however, that stands out among the upper class communities; Triangle. Over the last several years, Triangle, Virginia has become a virtual ghost town. Boarded up businesses and foreclosed homes fill the landscape of an area that was once a thriving part of Northern Virginia.

Just off the freeway in a dilapidated home lives a single mother named Mary and her son, Elias. Mary had to give up working to care for Elias who suffers from Spina bifida. Requiring, 24 hour care, Elias is confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak. That leaves his mother responsible for literally every single daily activity; from taking showers to brushing his teeth. Because of her inability to work, Mary could not afford the much needed repairs to her home. The list of repairs was a long one; a new roof, HVAC system and the most daunting of them all, repairs to the foundation. She had reached out to many different organizations for help but the scope and size of the job was always more than they could handle.

One Saturday morning, Mary had a rare opportunity to relax and watch TV. She caught an episode of Helping Hands and decided to send a letter requesting assistance. “When I saw the Helping Hands, I was amazed by the things Michael & Son was doing in the community” said Mary. “I just had this feeling that this was the answer” continued Mary. She was right, just days after her letter was sent the repairs on her home were underway. With the help of other local businesses, the family received all the repairs to their home at no cost.

If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and is unable to afford home repairs, please contact the Michael & Son Cares Team. Michael & Son Services established their “Cares” charitable campaign in 2010 providing essential home services to local families in need. To date, the program has assisted over 20 families in the area. They are also proud sponsors and supporters of Dreams for kids, Saltwater Soldiers and Susan G. Komen. Michael & Son Services has been serving the greater DC metropolitan area for over 30 years with electrical, plumbing, heating, A/C, construction and handyman services. Make sure you tune in this weekend to see this incredible story for yourself, showtimes listed below.

Our motto has always been, “If you can’t, we can!” Visit us today, at www.michaelandson.com.

Washington DC WRC NBC4

2/7 9:30 – 10:00 AM

2/21 9:30 – 10:00 AM

2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM

3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM

3/21 10:00 – 10:30 AM

Norfolk: WVEC

2/7 9:00 AM

2/21 9:00 AM

2/28 9:00 AM

3/14 9:00 AM

3/21 9:00 AM

Richmond WTVR

2/8 11:30 PM

2/22 11:30 PM

2/29 11:30 PM

3/15 11:30 PM

3/22 11:30 PM

Baltimore WMAR

2/7 6:30 PM

2/21 6:30 PM

2/28 6:30 PM

3/14 6:30 PM

3/21 6:30 PM

Charlottesville WVIR

2/7 9:30 – 10:00 AM

2/21 9:30 – 10:00 AM

2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM

3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM

3/21 10:00 – 10:30 AM

Haymarket Food Pantry, spreading the love!

December 8, 2014

Michael & Son

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Haymarket Food Pantry

One of the last places most people would expect to find is food pantry is in Haymarket, Virginia. Situated between our nation’s capitol and the Shenandoah Mountains, Haymarket is a quiet and affluential suburban community and is more known for its rural quaintness and country clubs rather than families dealing with food insecurity.

However, show up to the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry on any given Saturday morning and you’ll see a different side of the community. Before the doors are open, the lines have already formed. Families from every walk of life wait patiently to receive everything from locally grown organic produce to farm raised beef and poultry. Quality, nutritious food is what sets the Haymarket Regional Food Pantry apart from the organizations in the area and that’s all made possible by generous local business and farmers.

None of the services provided by the food pantry would be possible without the help of the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedules to lend a hand in their community. A testament to their dedication was the fact that the food pantry had no running water, working toilets or the electrical capacity to handle the many freezers and appliances needed to run the operation. Earlier in the year,

Home Depot had pledged to donate all the supplies for the electrical and plumbing work but needed a company to volunteer instillation services. Enter the Michael & Son Cares Program.

The Michael & Son Cares Program got its start in 2011 helping families and not for profit organizations with essential home repairs they can’t afford. After a few phone calls and meetings, Michael & Son Services was onsite restoring water services, installing toilets and upgrading the electrical panel. Within a matter of days, the volunteers had the relative comforts of home and an increased capacity for storing perishables, something the food pantry desperately needed.

All of the work done by the Michael & Son Cares Program is documented and shown on NBC’s “Helping Hands”.

Washington DC NBC 4

Saturday, December 6th – 10am

Charlottesville NBC 29

Sunday December 7th – 10am

Richmond NBC 12

Sunday December 7th – 7:30pm

Norfolk ABC 13

Sunday December 7th – 9:30am

Thanks to our friends at Home Depot, we were able to make a huge difference at the Haymarket Food Pantry.

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE

Helping Hands: Season 3, Episode 2

December 8, 2014

Michael & Son

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Brandon Donaghy

Brandon Donaghy, a 32 year old man from Reva Virginia, has never had it easy. At the age of 9, Brandon lost his mother to a drunk driver and was forced to endure the harsh realities of life without her loving guidance. In a devastating twist of fate, at the age of 16 Brandon was involved in a near fatal car accident which left him in a coma for weeks. As a result of the coma, Brandon was left with permanent and severe brain damage that affects his memory to this day.

Because of his injuries, Brandon is unable to work and relies on a small, monthly stipend of Government disability payments to support himself and his 4 children. With the monthly payments being hardly enough to pay for basic necessitates, Brandon was unable to make essential repairs to his home; the most pressing issue being a broken furnace. As the prospect of a harsh winter loomed over head, Brandon decided to take a leap of faith and called the Michael & Son Cares Program.

“After hearing the Donaghy story from my Cares Project Manager, I knew we had to help” said Basim Mansour, Proud Son & Owner of Michael & Son Services. It’s long been one of our goals to extend our program to all areas in Virginia; the Donaghy family great is a great place to start!

You can see the whole story on the season premiere of “Helping Hands” Sunday, November 16^th at 12:30 pm. Helping Hands documents the work of the Michael & Son Cares Program and the families they assist. If you would like to discuss the Cares Program or Helping Hands with the Cares Team or their recipients, please contact Shadi Tahrawi at (571) 237-8209 or shadi.tahrawi@michaelandson.com.

Make sure to tune in, showtimes below:

Washington DC NBC 4

Saturday, November 22nd – 10am

Charlottesville NBC 29

Sunday, November 23rd – 10am

Richmond NBC 12

Sunday, November 23rd – 12pm

Norfolk ABC 13

Sunday, November 23rd – 9:30am

WATCH THE EPISODE HERE

Wizards Game!

Not stopping at just the home repairs, the Michael & Son Cares Program worked with their friends at the Verizon Center to give the Donaghy family a special night out at a Wizards game. The family enjoyed court side seats for the Wizards warm-up where they were able to meet players and take pictures. The Donaghy’s went from court side to a luxury, catered suite to watch the rest of the Wizards / Pacers game. It was surely a night they won’t soon forget.