An Auburn couple will sing the praises of an organization that touched their lives for years as they co-chair the fall 2007 United Way Campaign.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Jeanie and Tom Lewis, co-chairs of the 2007 Cayuga County United Way campaign, hold a photograph of their son, Christian, who died from a brain tumor in 2004.
Jeanie and Tom Lewis, co-chairs of the 2007 Cayuga County United Way campaign, hold a photograph of their son, Christian, who died from a brain tumor in 2004.
Tom and Jeanie Lewis utilized several agencies sponsored by the United Way of Cayuga County during their son's five-year illness. They will share their experience getting assistance from area nonprofit organizations to care for their son Christian, who died at 20 from an undiagnosed brain tumor.
As fundraising campaign co-chairs, they will educate people on the United Way's importance in the community. Jeanie also stressed that the money stays in the community. “We're talking about caring for our neighbors, families, friends,” she said.
It was this commitment that led the United Way board of directors to select the couple, board president John Latanyshyn said.
“You can't help but feel better talking to Tom and Jeanie. They always give you hope. Those are the qualities that we look for in (campaign) chairs,” Latanyshyn said.
Tom and Jeanie Lewis have made an effort to get to know people in the community and are well-respected, he added. Their strong commitment to - and personal knowledge of - the community made them the ideal chairs for this year's effort, said Gail Homick, executive director for the United Way of Cayuga County.
Last year, Jon Budelmann and Lon Fricano co-chaired the campaign, which raised more than $1.4 million in pledges and donations.
The Lewises look at the upcoming pledge drive as a tribute to their son and a way to give back to the agencies that assisted them through their crisis.
“The biggest reason we selected them is they will be speaking from the heart. They are very genuine,” Latanyshyn said.
The Lewis' oldest of five children, besides his twin Sean, first began having trouble when he was 15. Christian showed stroke-like symptoms, such as favoring his left side and forgetting words. His problems escalated until he couldn't read, speak, or use his right hand. The family traveled to clinics and hospitals around the country. Finally, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., a doctor told Jeanie they probably wouldn't know what was causing his affliction until he died.
At that point, they decided to care for Christian at home and make him as comfortable as possible.
During that time, the family utilized many services and programs sponsored by the United Way.
A social person, Christian wanted to go to college like his brother, who went on to Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
The couple contacted Unity House, which provided the former hockey player with a job coach to work along side him at Johnston Paper. It gave Christian a chance to get out of the house and feel productive, Jeanie said.
Later, his brain deteriorated so much the family turned to the Gavras Center for its Day Habitation Program. This allowed someone to stay with him during the days. The family also hired nurses to stay with him during the night until he died in April 2004.
This was the second time the Lewises used the Gavras Center.
Christian and his identical twin brother, Sean, were born premature and underweight. The boys enrolled in the E. John Gavras Center infant stimulation program until they were 3.
“We never made the connection that these agencies were all of the United Way,” Jeanie said.
Tom said he hopes chairing the campaign and sharing their story will help people realize the work the “unsung heroes” do daily, just like the home-care providers and job coaches.
This year's slogan is “Making a Difference ... Is What Matters.”
Jeanie told her children to make the world a better place. During Christian's wake, the family found out he had been doing just that, one person at a time.
The couple also wants people to realize that emergencies can spring up at any time, to anyone.
Tom wants to make sure people know that despite background, income, and social status, anyone could be impacted by the agency.
“When you turn the corner, and there's a crisis, when it hits you, the social-economic factors don't matter,” Jeanie said. “It could happen to you.”
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
As fundraising campaign co-chairs, they will educate people on the United Way's importance in the community. Jeanie also stressed that the money stays in the community. “We're talking about caring for our neighbors, families, friends,” she said.
It was this commitment that led the United Way board of directors to select the couple, board president John Latanyshyn said.
“You can't help but feel better talking to Tom and Jeanie. They always give you hope. Those are the qualities that we look for in (campaign) chairs,” Latanyshyn said.
Tom and Jeanie Lewis have made an effort to get to know people in the community and are well-respected, he added. Their strong commitment to - and personal knowledge of - the community made them the ideal chairs for this year's effort, said Gail Homick, executive director for the United Way of Cayuga County.
Last year, Jon Budelmann and Lon Fricano co-chaired the campaign, which raised more than $1.4 million in pledges and donations.
The Lewises look at the upcoming pledge drive as a tribute to their son and a way to give back to the agencies that assisted them through their crisis.
“The biggest reason we selected them is they will be speaking from the heart. They are very genuine,” Latanyshyn said.
The Lewis' oldest of five children, besides his twin Sean, first began having trouble when he was 15. Christian showed stroke-like symptoms, such as favoring his left side and forgetting words. His problems escalated until he couldn't read, speak, or use his right hand. The family traveled to clinics and hospitals around the country. Finally, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., a doctor told Jeanie they probably wouldn't know what was causing his affliction until he died.
At that point, they decided to care for Christian at home and make him as comfortable as possible.
During that time, the family utilized many services and programs sponsored by the United Way.
A social person, Christian wanted to go to college like his brother, who went on to Villanova University in Pennsylvania.
The couple contacted Unity House, which provided the former hockey player with a job coach to work along side him at Johnston Paper. It gave Christian a chance to get out of the house and feel productive, Jeanie said.
Later, his brain deteriorated so much the family turned to the Gavras Center for its Day Habitation Program. This allowed someone to stay with him during the days. The family also hired nurses to stay with him during the night until he died in April 2004.
This was the second time the Lewises used the Gavras Center.
Christian and his identical twin brother, Sean, were born premature and underweight. The boys enrolled in the E. John Gavras Center infant stimulation program until they were 3.
“We never made the connection that these agencies were all of the United Way,” Jeanie said.
Tom said he hopes chairing the campaign and sharing their story will help people realize the work the “unsung heroes” do daily, just like the home-care providers and job coaches.
This year's slogan is “Making a Difference ... Is What Matters.”
Jeanie told her children to make the world a better place. During Christian's wake, the family found out he had been doing just that, one person at a time.
The couple also wants people to realize that emergencies can spring up at any time, to anyone.
Tom wants to make sure people know that despite background, income, and social status, anyone could be impacted by the agency.
“When you turn the corner, and there's a crisis, when it hits you, the social-economic factors don't matter,” Jeanie said. “It could happen to you.”
Staff writer Jessica Soule can be reached at 253-5311 ext 267 or jessica.soule@lee.net
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Mary Dillon, marketing director, United Way of Central West Virginia wrote on Apr 11, 2007 4:04 PM:
John DelPiano, Dania Beach, Florida wrote on Apr 11, 2007 1:45 PM:
Patti wrote on Apr 11, 2007 12:16 PM: