Andrew Behoff

Andrew was born with cerebral palsy, which affects the connection of the brain to the muscles. Andrew's parents lift him in and out of their vehicle in order to transport him, but now he is in high school. Lifting a 100 pound child into or out of a vehicle was getting more difficult and can be dangerous, especially when there is ice and snow on the ground.

These included programs such as sporting events and dances, something every high school age person enjoys. It's difficult enough to have a multiple impaired child, but that is magnified without proper transportation. Doing things most of us take for granted like going to the store is enormously complicated when you also have to factor in the time and difficulty of manually transporting a disabled person. All of this meant that Andrew's parents weren't able to take him to as many things as either he or they they wanted,while at the same time recognizing that engagement in the community is critical for Andrew's development.

Andrew's dad is a service technician for a Chicago area mechanical contractor who took up the charge to try and get the family an accessible van.

The goal was to raise at least $45,000. After an initial surge, funding slowed to a stop. The family applied for assistance from the state of Illinois who pledged $15,000, but with a number of caveats applicable to the vehicle. Mobility Works of Villa Park stepped in to help the family find a vehicle that met the states requirements but was still affordable. Meanwhile, a Chicago area friend of the foundation who is in the HVAC industry contacted Joe Groh to let him know of this situation.