Azalea Charities and Allegheny Records Destruction Join with Pittsburgh Contractors to Build an Accessible Bedroom for Veteran Quadriplegic
Frank Lasch
Chairman, Azalea Charities, Inc.
703-670-5238
azaleacharities@aol.com
Shown left to right are daughter Ashley Hika, Dan Hika, and son DJ Hika. [Click image for larger view]
NEW KENSINGTON, PA (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — When Navy Veteran Dan Hika dove into his swimming pool in the summer of 2012, he never dreamed he would injure his spinal cord and surface into the life of a C5-C6 complete quadriplegic. For the past five years, he has adjusted to a new normalcy of sleeping downstairs in the former dining room amidst the bustle of a busy household that includes three teenagers. To give Dan some privacy and create an accessible area to suit his needs, Azalea Charities is partnering with Allegheny Records Destruction as well as several local building contractors to convert an existing porch into a new bedroom.
This new room will make a positive impact on the entire Hika family. According to Dan’s wife Cheryl, “We had to eliminate our dining room and place his bed in there. He really needs to have a room of his own. We have three children that have friends in and out all the time. Depending on what time of day it is we have to deny them that because of the lack of privacy for Dan. I really had hopes to get him upstairs into his bedroom. We had a stair lift installed but he is unable to use it because it is not safe for someone in his condition. I would really like to close my front porch or build an addition on to the back of the house to give him a private place to sleep, get dressed, etc.”
Cheryl met with Azalea Charities’ Chairman & Founder, Frank E. Lasch, Sr. to discuss options. They decided to enclose the front porch. Frank worked closely with several companies in the Pittsburgh / New Kensington area to facilitate the funding and building. So far, several cash and service donations have been committed to this effort:
- Allegheny Records Destruction, Delmont, PAMajor cash donation
- BHC, Inc., Trafford, PAGeneral Contractor
- Elk Air Conditioning, North Huntington, PA Heating / Ventilating Air Conditioning (HVAC)
- Lowe’s Lumber & Materials Dept, Tarentum, PA Building Materials
We also appreciate the support of the City of New Kensington for this project.
According to Lasch, who grew up in the Pittsburgh area, “Through our Aid for Wounded Warriors, we like to help Veterans and their families like the Hikas achieve a better quality of life in dealing with a traumatic situation. It is heartwarming to see the generous community support for Dan.”
About Azalea Charities
Azalea Charities supports a dual mission of Northern Virginia charities from Arlington to Fredericksburg and Aid for Wounded Warriors. Azalea Charities is an all-volunteer organization that raises funds through donations and events such as its Corporate & Community Giving Plan and sponsoring Team Azalea Charities in the Marine Corps Marathon and the annual Azalea Classic Invitational Golf Tournament. Beyond minimal expenses, all funds raised go to core charitable causes. Azalea Charities is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization located in Prince William County, Virginia. For more information, see www.azaleacharities.org.
About Allegheny Records Destruction
Allegheny Records Destruction is a local, family-owned business that has been providing secure document destruction for the Pittsburgh area for over 25 years. Our maximum security facility is located in Western Pennsylvania. Our high capacity destruction equipment is well known for its ruggedness and reliability. Our customized service, perfected by over 20 years of experience in the industry, makes us uniquely qualified to handle all destruction needs. See http://alleghenyshredding.com/ for more information.