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.
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.
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.
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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
Bobby Hicks
When Bobby Hick’s returned from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, he didn’t expect to face another battle. A devastating diagnosis of Leukemia left Bobby and his family wondering what the future would hold, or if he would have a future at all. Too add to the Hick’s family’s woes, their already problematic HVAC system and water heater gave out just as the winter season begun. With no where left to turn, the family reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program.
“When the Hicks story was brought to my attention, I knew we had to help” said Basim Mansour, Proud Son & Owner of Michael & Son Services. “Here’s a guy who gave so much for his country and asked so little in return; I not only wanted to help them with their home repairs, I wanted to do something really special for Bobby.
The Michael & Son Cares Program and The Verizon center had worked in conjunction to plan a special surprise day at a Washington Capitals game for Bobby and his family. When an extended stay at the hospital for intensive treatment foiled those plans, The Cares Program and Verizon Center decided to bring the Washington Capitals to Bobby.
When Bobby Hick’s woke up Sunday morning he didn’t think he would be meeting his idol and star defenseman for the Washington Capitals, Mike Green. Taking time from his busy schedule, Mike Green surprised Bobby at Fairfax Hospital with a signed jersey and skates. It was a moment Bobby and his family won’t soon forget.
If you would like to speak with Basim Mansour regarding the Michael & Son Cares Program, please contact Shadi Tahrawi at (571) 237-8209 or shadi.tahrawi@michaelandson.com. Media outlets are free to use the text, videos and images in any TV, print or radio media.
Our latest episode featuring Mike Green of the Washington Capitals, airs this weekend!
Make sure to tune in! Showtimes below:
Washington DC WRC NBC4
1/10 9:30 – 10:00 AM
1/17 9:30 – 10:00 AM
1/31 9:00 – 9:30 AM
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
1/10 9:00 AM
1/17 9:00 AM
1/31 9:00 AM
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
1/11 11:30 PM
1/18 11:30 PM
2/1 11:30 PM
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
1/10 6:30 PM
1/17 6:30 PM
1/31 6:30 PM
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
1/10 9:30 – 10:00 AM
1/17 9:30 – 10:00 AM
1/31 9:00 – 9:30 AM
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
Thank you so much to Monumental Sports, the Verizon Center, the Washington Capitals, and to Mike Green!
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 16th 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
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.