There is currently no cure for this condition, however, Gentrie was recently referred to a group of doctors in Columbus, Ohio.  Gentrie is waiting to take place in an experimental study where she will have a pacemaker placed in her stomach. Because of the experimental nature of this procedure insurance will not cover the costs.  The APX Family Foundation was touched by Gentrie’s story and decided APX Alarm needed to do something to help this little girl. 

On July 15, APX Alarm put on a silent auction and bake sale to help raise money for Gentrie and her family.  The evening was quite a success thanks to the generous donations from APX employees and members of the community.  The auction and bake sale raised close to $6,000.  APX Alarm is matching the amount that was raised.  This makes the total donation to the Hansen family $11,930.12.   A few APX employees were able to meet Gentrie at  the end of the evening, which was a special experience for all those who were there. 

 To read more on Gentrie’s story please visit:

 http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700046059/Hundreds-rally-to-help-Gentrie-Hansen-with-hope-money.html

 ”This was a great opportunity to serve the community and I think we all had a lot of fun,” said APX head technician, Cody McGee.

 Many new programs, such as discipleship, GED, computer training and life skills have been added to the Mission’s outreach to the community.

“Giving back to the community is something we wanted to integrate into our summer program,” said APX Alarm, Co-Manager Zak Murray. We sweat and fight next to each other every day.  It was good to see the smiles and service that also brought our office together,”

The Round Rock Area Serving Center carries out a community-wide mission of churches, other organizations and individuals serving human needs in the city of Round Rock, Texas and surrounding areas.  Services provided include a food pantry, Coats for Kids, clothing and furniture vouchers, Computers for Kids and financial assistance for utilities, rent and temporary lodging.

Last year, a total of 44,000 people were assisted at the Serving Center, experiencing a 45 percent increase in the number of households with under-privileged, low-income people and families in-crisis,

A friend of mine emailed me several weeks earlier inquiring about donations for a school in the Congo that is in desperate need of monetary support, primarily for a few computers. He described the school and students as follows:

The school is an L-shaped building with open windows and doors.  It houses K thru 12th grade students, and is on supplemental electricity from the government so there are times when it’s run by generator.

The students are very proud of what they have in terms of school necessities and live for learning.  The school currently has one extremely old computer for all of them.

When I assured him APX could help in some fashion, he invited me over to deliver the computers to the school personally.  After weeks of Visa approval and malaria shots I was on my way.

It was a trip I won’t soon forget. We are blessed abundantly as Americans, and are even more blessed that we can be a part of helping those with needs.

Kurt Hale

Community Action Services and Food Bank is dedicated to building self-reliance in families, individuals and communities throughout Utah, Summit and Wasatch Counties.  The agency operates the food bank that serves these counties, along with six satellite locations.  The organization works with families to meet emergency needs such as food, housing, and utilities and provides long-term support.

Since 2007, the number of families requesting assistance has doubled.  In addition to operating the food bank that services Utah, Summit and Wasatch Counties, Community Action Services and the Food Bank runs five other programs with the goal of building self-reliance in the community.

The organization also provides education resources and advocacy to empower communities through knowledge about poverty, financial wellness and other important issues.

The tragedy left the Mapleton, Utah family of 10 children without a father and a mother with serious injuries that will require months of rehabilitation.  Making this challenge even more difficult are the mounting medical bills that are up to $283,000 and rising.

Friends, neighbors, church members and even complete strangers helped organize a fundraiser that was held Feb. 18 at the Utah Valley University McKay Center.  Individual and corporate sponsors stepped up in providing goods and services including a dinner, silent auction, entertainment and live auction.  An estimated 1,200 people attended the event and helped raise over $70,000 for the family.  APX and the APX Family Foundation also made contributions totaling close to $20,000.

The Faust oldest son, A.J. works for APX as an NIS home security consultant and found himself thrust into doing everything he can to help keep the family together.

Regarding the support the family has received, A.J. said, “I am so grateful for the love and compassion expressed by everyone here at APX. Some I have known well and some I have never met, but the love and support has been freely given from day one.  Ever since the accident, I have had help for my family from APX.  Many of my friends and co-workers stepped up to help my family donating sales and their own personal money.  I am especially grateful for the leadership here at APX. They have been so understanding and have helped to cover immediate needs as well as offering to help throughout the whole experience. We are just deeply grateful for the love and support offered to our family during the hardest experience we have ever been through.”

For those who wish to make a contribution may do so at any Zions Bank branch through the Damon Faust Fund.

“What a great way for us at APX to celebrate the life and mission of Martin Luther King Jr. than through providing service to those in need,” said Krissy Weekly, APX Gives Back Coordinator. Our mission of protecting families is consistent with the ideals and principles of making our communities stronger.”

An estimated 1,500 volunteers from throughout Utah County came to support the day of service which included, blood drives, quilt making, making dolls and hats for children and writing letters to our military men and women serving overseas.

More than 30 off-campus service projects were organized including Habitat for Humanity, LDS Humanitarian Services and United Way of Utah County.

Provo, Utah, Nov. 30, 2009 – APX Alarm, one of the nation’s largest residential security alarm companies, announced today it is has donated $30,000 to Provo’s Community Action Services and Food Bank. The donation was used for needed equipment and food supplies during the holiday season.

As part of the APX Family Foundation, the company made the donation with part of the proceeds used towards the purchase of a much needed forklift required to move and store donated items at the Community Action Services facility. The remaining portion of the donation went towards the purchase and assembly of Thanksgiving dinner for over 820 local families in need. The boxes would feed up to 4,000 people.

In previous years, Community Action Services has provided food for over 300 families each day during the Thanksgiving week. However, the number of people hit hard by the economic slowdown increased dramatically this year.

“Right now, we don’t even have enough turkey dinners for one day’s worth of requests,” said Jim Thomas, program manager for Community Action Food Bank. The donation from APX Alarm has helped in such a positive way. As our resources have been strained they have stepped in to help us meet the increasing demand.”

Over 90 APX Alarm employees and other volunteers assembled the dinners, transported boxes and distributed the meals.

About Community Action Services and Food Bank
Community Action Services and Food Bank is part of America’s largest poverty fighting network. We are one of more than 1,100 Community Action Agencies across the country who is working to fulfill the Promise of Community Action.

APX Alarm, one of the nation’s largest residential security alarm companies, announced today it has launched a community donation challenge to assist hundreds of families in financial need during the holiday season.

Appearing on KUTV “2News This Morning, APX Alarm CEO, Todd Pedersen announced for the second consecutive year, APX Alarm has partnered with United Way of Utah County to support the Sub for Santa program. Pedersen shared how APX employees had raised $60,000 to be used entirely for families and children in Utah County. He also issued a challenge for other companies and interested parties to provide additional support as a result of the ongoing economic slowdown impacting a growing number of families along the Wasatch Front.

“The number of families and children impacted by the ongoing economic hardships continues to grow all around us,” said Todd Pedersen, CEO of APX Alarm. “We are thrilled to be involved as a company with such a terrific organization and initiative to help those children and families in need.”

“With the slump in the economy, we have seen an increase in families applying for help who have never needed it before,” said Jenn Kilstrom, director of United Way of Utah County Sub for Santa. “This program provides community members with the opportunity to provide a little holiday cheer for Utah County children whose families are facing difficult circumstances.”

Donations for Sub for Santa may be made directly to United Way in Utah County by calling 801-374-2588 or by visiting www.unitedwayuc.org.

About United Way of Utah County Sub for Santa
United Way of Utah County Sub for Santa program is a temporary assistance program that provides Christmas gifts for children through sponsors and is designed to foster self-sufficiency by helping applicants learn different ways to manage their time, money and talents. The program is part of United Way of Utah County’s focus on building financially stable families.

Recently, APX Alarm was made aware of a special family in Colorado. Katelyn, is a young seven year old girl who has overcome a number of medical challenges from birth. Hearing became an increasing challenge for her in every aspect of life but especially at home and at school. Through the APX Family Foundation, Katelyn was able to receive new hearing aids which came at a particular challenging time in their household.

The following is a letter sent to the APX Family Foundation from Katelyn’s mother Rachael.

Dear APX and All Who Were Involved in This Special Gift,

Thank you so much for your generous gift to our daughter Katelyn. With your wonderful donation, you have given our daughter the gift of hearing. Words cannot express our gratitude and appreciation for all you have done. It is heartwarming to know there are people who care so much for others and are so willing to share.

Katelyn was born with a number of medical problems including, a cleft palate, strabismus, hearing loss, elevated pressure on her brain and a deletion on her 22Q chromosome. She has been through multiple surgeries and visited many specialists, to help resolve and treat her issues, throughout most of her life.

My husband lost his job in April and has been intensely looking for work ever since, but presently we are still without a job. When we were told that Katelyn needed hearing aids and the costs involved, we were overwhelmed and had no idea how we were going to get them for her. We know you were an answer to our prayers. Thank you for touching our lives in the way that you have. Please know you picked such a sweet little girl to give this gift of hearing to.

When Katelyn got her hearing aids for the first time, we were driving home from the doctor’s office and she asked me what the click, clack, click, clack, sound was. It was the turn signal in our car. Because of her hearing loss, never before in her 7 years of life had she ever been able to hear the turn signal working. It has been delightful to watch as she had heard the wind for the first time, the dishwasher working, someone whispering to her and actually been able to hear and hearing when we called her for dinner.

Click Here to See Katelyn’s Letter to APX Alarm

In the short time she has had her hearing aids, they have had a significant impact in her life. Her speech is improving, she can actually hear what the teacher is saying in school and can finally have a normal conversation with kids on the playground or in the lunchroom. You will never know how much your gift and generosity has meant to our family!

I have enclosed some pictures of Katelyn and her hearing aids. I hope you know how profoundly grateful we are you and how highly we regard APX, as a company. Thanks for making the gift of hearing a reality and blessing Katelyn’s life so she could finally hear and enjoy being just a normal seven year old!

Sincerely,

Rachael and Richard S”

Agent Eric Barker is an officer with the Utah Department of Corrections.  He was diagnosed in 2006 with Myelodisplastia, a rare form of blood cancer which doctors believe was caused from high doses of chemo therapy he received back in 2002 from Aplastic Anemia.  At that time, the family was not aware that this new cancer could be a possible side effect for the treatment.

Recently, Eric has been in declining health and is dependent on blood transfusions to save his life.  He is currently receiving treatment from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas that specializes in Eric’s particular cancer.  The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center does nearly 700 bone marrow transplants a year and is better equipped to treat Eric’s disease.

While working out at Gold’s Gym, fellow officer Kody Floyd shared with Todd and Jared the challenge the Barker family would be facing with new treatment recommended outside of Utah.  The APX Family Foundation approved the contribution to assist the family at this critical time in Agent Barker’s treatment program.      

“Eric is the type of guy who would truly give anyone the shirt off his back,” said his wife Tammie.  “He never stops working so hard and always is thinking how he can help others and make a difference.”

For those wishing to provide further financial support, an account has been established at Beehive Credit Union under the Eric Barker Charitable Fund or contact Supervisor Al Lolohea (801-633-9370) or Agent Barbie Law (801-330-8955).

APX Alarm has teamed up with the Utah Food Bank in supporting the first-ever Hunger Action Month Food Drive. The single-day food drive will take place this Saturday, Sept. 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will help distribute food items to families in need during a time of year that is typically slow for community food donations.

“We are excited to not only provide financial assistance but contribute a large team of our sales reps, technicians and corporate volunteers to assist in the collection efforts for this charitable event,” said Todd Pedersen, CEO of APX Alarm.

A Hunger Action Month Food Drive bag will appear in many daily and weekly newspapers statewide during the week of September 14. Residents throughout the state are encouraged to fill any bag with non-perishable food donation and drop off at any Smith’s location, Utah Food Bank or a local food pantry. All locations are listed on the bag or can be found at www.utahfoodbank.org. Most needed food items include peanut butter, tuna fish, canned stews and chili’s as well as boxed meals.

“We are grateful for APX Alarm’s sponsorship and volunteerism efforts for this exciting food drive. The summer and early fall months are traditionally low periods in term of food donations,” said Jim Pugh, executive director of the Utah Food Bank. “We hope this food drive will boost the amount of food our partner agencies are able to distribute to individuals and families in need. We’re asking the community to take action by donating food for those who need it most.”

Through the Sub for Santa program that APX sponsored in December, there were many families who needed extra help for Christmas. Hundreds of families needed help in supplying their own family with gifts for Christmas. Because of the generous giving by APX employees (over $113,000), APX was able to help a few families receive special request that were in addition to the Christmas presents requested. Some families needed help paying for medical needs, others need bedding and furniture, other families just needed extra money for diapers, all these needs were important and fulfilled.

When a few APX employees were looking through the family sponsor sheets and their needs, APX came across a very special request by one family, “to be in a home of their own”. Touched by their story and wanting them to have a home of their own for Christmas, the family was contacted about their situation and their needs. Employees spent hours searching for a home that could be theirs. Just in time, a home was found for this family. Employees hurried to move in furniture, bedding, supplies and a Christmas tree for the holiday. As the hours drew to minutes, a van arrived in the driveway, employees standing and waiting greeted the family with hugs and cheers.

“The parents were so excited; they even kept their new home a secret from their kids because that is what the kids asked for, for Christmas”, said Stacey Helfrich. The parents blind folded their kids and walked them up into the entry way of the home. It was there, in the entry of the home, where the magic of Christmas began. The blind folds were removed from the children’s faces and the parents welcomed them into their new home. The excitement could not be contained; their pure desire to be in a home together at last was discovered by the APX employees, “tears flowed down our faces” said Krissy Weekley, as the children shouted with excitement and hugged their parents who wept with joy.

APX Alarm looks forward to the next Christmas holiday season were nothing but giving and serving happens, for a few months around Christmas, every employee that wants to help has a chance to be Santa for a family in need.

Dedicated to renewing a sense of hope to victims of Hurricane Ike, APX Alarm Security Solutions sent 90 employee volunteers last month to the Houston – Galveston, Texas area to assist in relief efforts.
Employees traveled by bus nearly 30 hours from Provo, Utah to Houston, TX to assist in the massive cleanup campaign. During the 3-day project, volunteers were able to help and support 76 families who were displaced by the devastation. APX was able to identify many of its own customers who were hit hard but also worked closely with FEMA and other partnering agencies to help others in critical need.

APX Alarm Chief Operating Officer, Alex Dunn said, “Our employees expressed a desire to help the hurricane victims, and so we set up a plan to make it happen. While many are concentrating on the financial headlines that are dominating the news, there are people affected by Hurricane Ike who don’t have the most basic things: power, phone, or a safe place to live. We came to discover that making a small difference is how you make a big difference. We hope that other people will remember the victims as well.”

APX Alarm Vice President of Operations, Lindsay Grauling said, “We feel blessed to have been able to go to Galveston to help clean up the massive destruction that Hurricane Ike caused. The people there are hard-working, kind and optimistic in the face of this incredible hardship and it was truly our pleasure to work alongside them as they started to rebuild their lives.”

“What an honor it was to serve with our APX employees,” said APX Alarm Project Manager, Tom Coleman. “I’ll remember the work being very challenging yet rewarding. In serving others, we forgot about our own needs while we were there which liberated us to do more with less sleep, food or rest than we thought possible. We grew closer and respected one another more than any team building exercise could have.”

“It was very touching,” said Galveston resident, Steve Harris. “Those who came never once complained and helped me more than I can express.”

Tom Coleman, a Utah-resident also described his experiences supporting one of APX’s customers, a Spanish speaking family whose home had been destroyed by the seven-foot wall of water that left nothing but debris and the walls standing.

Mr. Coleman said, “To support the family, twelve of us worked with chainsaws and rakes to clear the scene. As we talked to the husband and wife, we discovered that they both were employed as janitors for the local school district that is now closed until January. This effectively eliminated this family’s jobs for the next several months. We were proud when APX Alarm stepped up and offered this family $1000 to help with their immediate needs during this dire time. My crew and I were impressed and touched to work for a company that would do this for their customers.”

APX volunteers have supported more than 75 individual families in their cleanup efforts through FEMA and handed out food to hundreds of families through the Red Cross. Many of those supported have been APX customers in need of help.