Dreamweaver Project Fights Against MS
Melissa Disharoon, a recent widow and mother of 3, has been battling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) for nearly 30 years. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease of the central nervous system severely impacting the brain and spinal cord. MS causes the immune system to attack the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body.
Melissa is a daughter and became a caregiver of MS, and at just 22 years old, become a patient as well. She has seen the impact that MS has on someone her entire life. Having lived through her mother's MS journey and ultimate passing at the young age of 63, Melissa was determined to do MS differently. She has made a proactive effort to fight MS from day one, and for the last 7+ years, has participated in neurological and physical therapy weekly. Melissa's treatment has worked and she has managed to prevent another major relapse for over 10 years.
With that being said, Melissa continues to be proactive in her MS journey and is heading to Mexico to reboot her immune system by method of HSCT or aHSCT, which stands for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This treatment has proven to halt disease progression in cases of MS and aims to stops the immune system from causing damage to the myelin so that proper electrical conduction the within the nervous system is restored. While this treatment is promising, none of this is covered by insurance and comes at a great cost.
Dreamweaver aims to provide hope for those that need it most. Melissa has done everything she can to better her circumstances. She battles MS every single day of her life, and Dreamweaver's goal is help her fight the fight.
Melissa created a GoFundMe, linked below, with the goal of raising $65,000 dollars. Her GoFundMe currently sits at just over $36,000 dollars, and the Dreamweaver Project, on behalf of the Heslin Family Foundation, contributed an additional $30,000 to help her reach her goal. She will now be able to get the treatment she needs to continue to courageously fight the MS battle.
- Deuteronomy 3:16 -
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.""
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Matthew Heslin, Chairman of Heslin Family Foundation, Receives Commendable Award
Matthew Heslin, Chairman of the Heslin Family Foundation, received the Bishop's award for exemplary business integrity at this years Conference on Business and Ethics hosted by The Orange Catholic Foundation.
Matthew Heslin is not only the Chairman of the Heslin Family Foundation, but he is also the Founder & CEO of Heslin Holdings, a Commercial Real Estate Development & Investment Firm, as well as Green Sands Capital, a Multi-Family Investment Firm. While Matt has led all of his companies to ample success, his goal is to succeed not for the money, but to be able to fulfill God's word to help those around him.
Matt's business partners and employees are all in agreement that it is easy to operate at the highest ethical standard under Matt's leadership. Matt has been described as an "ambassador of faith-driven business, of business driven by ethics and integrity." He aims to provide a work environment where integrity is the foundation that builds the trust needed to create relationships that outlast any given project. Matt has always said that he is "not in the real estate business, he is in the relationship business. Real estate is just the product." Knowing Matt is knowing what it means to truly care about those around him. Real estate is the avenue that Matt uses to carry out God's word in any way that he can.
The guiding principles of Integrity, Accountability, Transparency, and Results motivates Matt's employees to outwork those around them while maintaining a level of integrity that, at times, lacks consistency throughout the industry. One of Matt's employees stated that "often in the corporate world, individual's success benefits the CEO's of the company while providing no benefit to the success of the employees. However, working under Matt's leadership means you are not just working for Matt, but you are working with him." It is clear that Matt builds up those around him to not only aid in their path of personal growth, but to benefit the greater good of the world.
As a foundation created to provide hope and help to a hurting world, we are pleased to share our Chairman, Matthew Heslin's, accomplishments in business. His integrity, his character, and his generosity continues to inspire those around him.
- Proverbs 19:17 -
"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward them for what they have done."
Dreamweaver Project Provides for a Deserving Family
A family based out of Bovey, MN was surprised with a gift from The Dreamweaver Project, a program created by the Heslin Family Foundation to bring hope and comfort to individuals and families that have been impacted in ways unimaginable from the painful realities of illness and disease.
Ryan and Stacey Johns have four children, one of which had cancer in 2019. The Johns family moved into a very small home, that of which was barely livable. Their plans to build the home of their dreams slowly became a reality of the past as their financial struggles grew extensive.
About two years ago, Shari Sweetnam, a member of the Board at Heslin Family Foundation, helped make the connection between the Johns family and the Heslin Family Foundation as she came across the "Go Fund Me" for the family's young daughter, Aria, that had cancer. When Shari brought the plan to the Heslin Family Foundation board of directors, the idea was passed unanimously and the project began.
In April of 2023, Shari and the Heslin Family Foundation surprised the Johns family with the news that they would be receiving a new home on behalf of the Dreamweaver Project. While the construction could take several months to complete, the family is excited for their new home.
- Hebrews 3:4 -
"For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God."
San Lorenzo Community of Hope Recap
The San Lorenzo Community of Hope project is officially complete, resulting in the construction of 58 two-bedroom homes; which, prior, were made out of whatever discarded materials the residents could find. Now, the residents have safe and reliable homes with access to water and sanitation to prevent the spread of certain illnesses in the community.
While housing is a major component of the projects we do with Food for the Poor, it is extremely important to us that we are giving the residents of these communities not only a safe place to live, but also a means to provide for themselves. The Community of Hope project funded an animal husbandry and agricultural component totaling 34 chicken coops and 15 hectares of land that were prepared for bean grain production – which is the equivalent of about 37 acres. With that, we also provided training and supplies so that the residents could maintain their source of income and nutrition when we are no longer there to aid.
This project was also able to fund the construction of a two-classroom school in Posoli. The children of the community now have a place dedicated to furthering their education; which is a critical component of breaking the cycle of poverty.
We are always grateful to work with Food for the Poor in the construction of communities throughout the world. It is essential that we do our part and give back when God gives us the means to provide.
- Hebrews 13:16 -
"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God"