Colonial Companies, MBA Opens Doors Foundation Announce First Grant to Cook Children’s Hospital Family
The Colonial Family of Companies and the Mortgage Bankers Association Opens Doors Foundation announced the inaugural grant as part of its new relationship with Cook Children’s Hospital in Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
MBA Opens Doors assists families with critically ill or injured children by providing mortgage or rental assistance grants to help them keep their homes in the face of significant medical expenses. Since its founding in 2011, MBA Opens Doors has provided assistance to more than 450 families.
The grant was awarded to the family of Jeremiah, age 3, who lives in Fort Worth with his parents and two young siblings. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy. The family has struggled financially since Jeremiah’s diagnosis due to a significant loss of income and increased expenses.
“As parents and family members, it’s easy to imagine how our work and family life would be disrupted by the diagnosis of a critically ill or injured child,” said MBA Vice-Chairman J. David Motley, CMB, president of Colonial Savings FA and its divisions. “For far too many families, sudden medical care creates an additional financial burden at a time of extreme emotional stress. This can often lead to putting the family home in jeopardy. I’m proud that the Colonial Family of Companies can help launch MBA Opens Doors in Texas. Helping a family keep their home while they provide long-term care for a sick child not only helps the family financially, but it can be critical to the wellness and recovery of the child.”
“I want to thank Dave and the entire team at the Colonial Family of Companies for connecting the good people at Cook Children’s Hospital with the Opens Doors Foundation.” said Debra Still, CMB, chair of the MBA Opens Doors Foundation and president & CEO of Pulte Mortgage. “From reading the grant applications each month, I have seen how lives are touched by Opens Doors. We are honored to have the chance to help Jeremiah’s family and look forward to helping out many others.”
Founded in 1952, the Colonial Family of Companies is a comprehensive, national financial services company offering home mortgage with retained servicing, personal and commercial banking services, property/hazard insurance and life/disability insurance.
About the MBA Opens Doors Foundation
For most families, fear of losing a home is second only to the sense of panic that comes with the need to care for a loved one who is suffering from a major illness, especially if they are a child. The MBA Opens Doors Foundation was developed as an industry association model for utilizing both expertise and resources to help individuals and families facing housing challenges associated with the significant cost of care for a seriously ill child.
Opens Doors, launched in 2011, passes 100 percent of donations it receives to families in need of assistance. The Foundation’s ongoing relationship with children’s hospitals in Washington D.C., Boston, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Denver and Houston identifies potential grant recipients.
Opens Doors is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions are tax-deductible. For more information about the Foundation or to make a donation, please go to www.mbaopensdoors.org.
