Personal catastrophic events unfortunately occur all too often in the Truckee Meadows. In our community there are many instances of severely ill children, or cases where parents are so ill that they can no longer care for their own children. The afflicted families are already under extreme emotional stress due to the initial illness, but once strained finances are factored into the situation, the feelings of helplessness are overwhelming.

The picture is not quite so bleak as you may think. There is one entity in the Truckee Meadows that many families and charitable organizations are turning to for assistance. The Builders Association Charity (BAC) has taken the role of champion for families experiencing catastrophic situations and who are unable to find no other recourse for their catastrophic illness or situation. BAC prides itself on being able to help families pay for medication, special treatments and the oftentimes accompanying transportation costs. Sometimes the help BAC provides is in the form of rent to make sure that families have appropriate housing while they are struggling to take care of sick loved ones. These small acts of kindness become large reminders of the generosity to be found in our community.

The Builders Association Charity has become an important resource for social workers, the staff at Washoe Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital, Leukemia Society, Hispanic Services and other charitable organizations. Immediate assistance for struggling families is only a phone call away. It is through the generosity of the Builders Association of Northern Nevada’s members, Partners in Philanthropy, and The Give Hope organization who raises funds from an annual golf tournament and auction, that BAC is capable of responding so quickly to the ever growing charitable needs of our community.
The satisfaction of assisting others is never more apparent than when you hear heartwarming stories of families who have faced extreme adversity linked to an illness and were able to receive enough help to get the catastrophic situation under control. The following families have asked that their names be withheld for privacy reasons, but would like their stories be told so that you may know how much receiving help has meant to them. Their names have been changed to protect their identity.

Donnie, a four-month-old preemie, suffers from cholestatic jaundice, congenital 2 herpes simplex virus, and status post necrotizing enterocolitis. When Donnie was discharged from the hospital, the parents were unable to cover the costs of his medication (the Medicaid application would not be fully processed for several weeks.) At Washoe Medical’s request, BAC paid for one month’s supply of medication so that the family could experience the joy of bringing their brand new baby home.
Maggie is a one month old who suffers from seizures and requires an apnea monitor to prevent his death. His parents have no insurance for medical equipment. The Builders Association Charity happily stepped forward to pay for the apnea monitor for the required six months.

The parents of Evonne, a three year old with an inoperable brain tumor, needed funds for travel expenses to Houston, Texas where Evonne receives her treatment. The city in which the family lives had a fundraiser to help pay for necessary treatment expenses. Unfortunately, there weren’t sufficient funds to cover transportation costs. BAC provided the money to get Evonne to her multiple treatments. It is small, often seemingly inconsequential items such as this that make all the difference to these families.

Sometimes a situation is just too difficult to handle alone, particularly when the person is a 17 year-old student. Allison began her treatment for emergency Cardiac Care in March, leaving her daughter at home trying to manage the payments for utilities, food and rent by getting a part-time job. The family is in a crisis situation as the rent is overdue and an eviction notice has been presented. The daughter is frightened that she will be put out in the street with no place to go. BAC has managed to negotiate the fees and has paid for one month’s rent so that Allison and her daughter can be assured of a home during this difficult time.

Another parent is trying to support his family of four, one of whom is a 12 year-old daughter with Muscular Dystrophy. She has a tracheotomy, which requires numerous medical supplies and must be on oxygen. Again, with no medical insurance, the family is in dire need to pay for her medical supplies. BAC has sent several checks to Arlington Clinical to cover two month’s medication and services. Elizabeth, who is eight years old, was diagnosed with epilepsy. Her family was being evicted from their home for non-payment of rent. Her mother, who had returned to Mexico for a family emergency, was denied reentry to the United States because her Visa had expired. This left the father to care for his sick daughter and another younger child. The father lost his job after he took Elizabeth to the hospital for emergency treatment of her seizures. When Elizabeth’s condition stabilized, he began to look for another job, but by this time eviction proceedings had begun and the family was days away from living out of a car. BAC negotiated with the landlord to forgive the late fees and then paid for the back rent. The assistance did not stop there however. To help the family with their situation, BAC assisted the father in finding suitable employment; and Hispanic Services is working with INS to bring the mother back to Reno.

As everyone knows, medical expenses can quickly add up, and even the best of efforts can sometimes fall short of paying all the bills. The divorced parents of Bill, a 16 year-old with an inoperable brain tumor, were having a difficult time covering a multitude of hospital and doctor bills. BAC negotiated the patient charges, resulting in a significant reduction of the outstanding bill. BAC then sent full payment to the hospital for the services they had rendered to Bill.

These stories are uplifting. Through adversity we grow stronger. These families are surviving physical and emotional adversity. The help provided to them through the Builders Association Charity has given them a chance for their love and appreciation to grow for one another, and for the caring people in our community.

Remember, the Builders Association Charity is a vehicle by which your help and generosity is funneled to those who are in dire need of assistance. It is you, as part of our wonderful community, who makes local families experiencing catastrophic situations realize that they are not alone, that there are many helping hands out there ready to give them hope. If you would like further information about the services provided by the Builders Association Charity, please call (775) 329-2424 or email Bobbie Merrigan.