Debra Clapperton

In 2000, Debra Clapperton was the 41 year old mother of 16-year-old Angie and 7- year-old Mandi. She was also the wife of Jim Clapperton, a service technician for Doornbos Heating and Air-Conditioning of Alsip, Illinois. On Memorial Day of that year she suffered a brain aneurysm that required life saving surgery. Following a long coma and months in the hospital, Debra returned home. She came home in a wheelchair with no ability to walk and no short term memory. She had severe cognitive disabilities and needed 24 hour a day care. Two years after Debbie’s surgery, her husband, Jim was stricken with cancer. He required surgery and months of chemotherapy. Even though Jim's cancer went into remission, he struggled to go back to work, all the while caring for Debra and his daughters. The family also struggled to meet financial obligations, working to adapt their home to accommodate many of Debra's needs. They no longer could count on Deb’s income and Jim could not work the overtime hours which had previously sustained the family.

Jim had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Following emergency surgery however, he passed away. Angie and Mandi had to be sent to live with extended family members. By early 2011 some of the funds upon which Debbie relied were close to exhaustion. The home she, Jim and their children had lived in was being foreclosed on and Debbie had to be moved into her mother's house. It was ill-equipped however to handle the needs of a severely disabled person. The solution was an extensive renovation, but that would cost about $30,000 which Debbie didn't have. Debra's sister and Guardian is the owner of an HVAC contracting firm in Tinley Park, Illinois. She requested assistance from the Joseph Groh foundation. Lacking funds to complete the remodel, the board petitioned The Service Roundtable for help. Yes! Plumbing of East Hazel Crest, Illinois and a

Contractors Donating Labor
Yes! Plumbing -- East Hazel Crest, Illinois
Ragnar Benson Construction -- Park Ridge, Illinois
R-Tech Construction -- Lansing, Illinois
J & A Drywall
Houts Painting -- St. John, Indiana
Regal Decorating -- Morton Grove, Illinois
Respect Electric -- Orland Hills, Illinois
SportsField -- Blue Island, Illinois
Fine Tune Repair -- Lansing, Illinois

Companies Donating Services
Waste Management -- Joliet, Illinois
Air Ease Heating Cooling and Refrigeration -- Tinley Park, Illinois
The Board Room -- Romeoville, Illinois

Companies Donating or Providing Reduced Priced Materials
Menards -- Matteson, Illinois
National Bathing Products -- Romeoville, Illinois
SG Supply -- Calumet Park, Illinois
Leeps Supply -- Lynnwood, Illinois

Companies/Individuals Making Cash Contributions
GW Berkheimer Corporation -- Portage, Indiana
Julie Tidwell -- Lennox Industries, Chicago branch
Todd Heinrich -- Lennox Industries, Chicago Branch
Lennox Industries -- Dallas, Texas (matching contribution)