Pay It Forward

   Kerman Haynes, Director of Sales for The Strand condo building in West Palm Beach was in the audience the day Oprah announced he challenge; he was given $1,000, and was instructed by Oprah to Pay It Forward.

    Kerman knew he wanted to help disadvantaged children that suffered form severe asthma and allergies so he contacted the Florence Fuller Center in Boca Raton.

   From there Mary Henry, Associate Director of Social Services helped him identify two children that could really use some extra help.  

   Kerman then proceeded to secure a donation of Air Purifying Systems know as O•ZONELite, a Deerfield Beach based Company.  The idea was to dramatically reduce the number of allergy and asthma triggers in the children’s’ environment.  The Company agreed to outfit both children’s entire homes with O•ZONELites.  Then upon visiting the Florence Fuller Center, David deMartino, co-founder of O•ZONELite took his Company’s donation a step further and offered to retrofit the entire Florence Fuller Center in air purifying, energy efficient lighting so the children had good indoor air quality at home as well as school.  

   From there David deMartino asked Bank of Florida if it would like to help these families or the Center by getting involved in this wonderful example of community outreach.  The intent of the gracious donation from the bank would be to establish the O•ZONELite Florence Fuller Children’s Medical Fund^™ for the children enrolled in the Center so that parents who cannot afford sufficient medical care, or who are underinsured may request money form the fund to alleviate the burden of high medical bills when their child falls ill.

    Kerman with the help of friends was able to get in touch with the great people at Procter & Gamble and secure a year supply of Febreze Allergen Reducer, Swiffer Dusters and Mr. Clean Extra Power for both families.  In addition, P & G also donated $7,500 towards cleaning services for the homes/school of these two children.

   Furthermore, ServiceMaster, the parent company of Merry Maids, donated $500 gift card to each family to get cleaning services started right away.

   Lastly, because medical care for these children is so expensive especially with no insurance or only Medicaid, with the help of the Florence Fuller Center, Kerman was able to find a local pediatrician, Dr. Paul Christakis, to treat the two children for both sick and well visits for a nominal charge of $5 per visit.  He also agreed to help secure prescriptions at little or no cost through his office.             

   As you have just read, this is a fantastic example of Paying It Forward; with one phone call Kerman started the ball rolling and is turning $1,000 dollars into more than $50,000 with the help of friends, privately held businesses, corporate giants and the kindness of strangers!