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

Angie Treasure, Southern Missouri OA

“It was great seeing all the boys work together and helping out the community,” said APX Alarm Beaumont Sales Manager, Brandon Holmes. 

The Reaud Family Shelter, a 19-room hospitality house on the Baptist Beaumont Hospital campus, is open to people with family members receiving care at any Southeast Texas hospital.  People who have outpatient procedures can stay at the house either before or after their hospital stay if needed.

The shelter will be like no other in our country. Unlike so many other hospitality houses across the nation, this one will have new furnishings and amenities, rather than one which receives left over or damaged furniture that the hospital has discarded.

 APX Alarm is now one of the largest residential companies in North America and has focused on giving back to the community. The company participates in the Sub for Santa program, raised funds for relief supplies in Haiti, bought Girl Scout Cookies for U.S. troops overseas, and many more activities.

Brittany Herbert, Red Cross donor recruitment representative in the Provo area, says, “They are wonderful and collect more units of blood than any business I have ever worked with – 154 on a recent drive and they held five drives in just over a year. Employees take such pride in their employer, every time I visit an APX blood drive I leave feeling revitalized.”

Brittany also said that “The APX blood donors seem happy to be there and their blood drives are fun activities. They have their own prizes and contests, such as ‘fastest bleeder’ and they award their own T-shirts.”

The American Red Cross has been collecting blood in Utah since 1997 and currently serves 33 hospitals in the state including Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. The Red Cross must collect 440 units of blood each day to meet the demand. For more information about blood donations in Utah or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

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.

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”