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"...Alexander dreamed up the idea after reading a USA TODAY story about Marta Morocho
and her five girls..."
"...Alexander had to deal with the INS to get Morocho, who is not a citizen, to Nashville.
"Instead of worrying something can't be done, just do it," Alexander says...."
and her five girls..."
"...Alexander had to deal with the INS to get Morocho, who is not a citizen, to Nashville.
"Instead of worrying something can't be done, just do it," Alexander says...."
Working together works for 3 friends
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
12/11/2001
NASHVILLE — If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Many businesses are no longer simply donating money to charities and hoping it gets to victims of the
Sept. 11 terror attacks. They are taking a hands-on approach and donating products and services
directly to families.
A group of businessmen here organized their own relief effort, called Working Together Works, for the
Morocho family of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The organizers persuaded a dozen companies, from national names like Loews Hotels and Southwest
Airlines to local businesses in the Music City, to donate more than $30,000 in products and services to
bring the family here last weekend.
The program is the brainchild of three friends: Vincent Windrow, vice president of Zycron Computer
Services here; C.C. Alexander, the West Coast-based creator of a cartoon character named Shooter;
and Darrell Freeman, Zycron CEO.
Windrow believes Working Together is a model for other U.S. businesses. "You can duplicate this
anywhere and everywhere," he says.
The terrorist attack shattered the Morochos' extended family. Leonel Morocho, 36, and three other family
members died at the World Trade Center. Leonel's death left his 33-year-old widow, Marta, alone to raise
five daughters: Monica, 14; Sandra, 12; Beatriz, 8; Maribel, 7; and Vanessa, 5.
So Marta Morocho brought 10 other family members for her first vacation outside the New York area,
including her five daughters; her brother and sister-in-law, Elias and Miriam Mejia, who serve as her
interpreters; their 3-year-old son, Brandon; and Marta's mother, Hilda, and father, Salvador.
The family also picked up $6,000 in cash donations from Nashville-area residents. Freeman alone gave
them $5,000. His company spent $12,000 in cash and services to organize the event in just 3 weeks.
"This was a chance to make a direct impact on a family I could see, touch and feel," says Freeman, who
also invited the family to move to Nashville.
The family visited the Olive Branch Church in nearby Antioch, where Windrow serves as senior pastor.
His congregation raised $724 in donations for Sunday's special guests.
"Tennesseans have big hearts," Marta Morocho says. Among the businesses aiding her and her family:
By Michael McCarthy, USA TODAY
12/11/2001
NASHVILLE — If you want something done right, do it yourself.
Many businesses are no longer simply donating money to charities and hoping it gets to victims of the
Sept. 11 terror attacks. They are taking a hands-on approach and donating products and services
directly to families.
A group of businessmen here organized their own relief effort, called Working Together Works, for the
Morocho family of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The organizers persuaded a dozen companies, from national names like Loews Hotels and Southwest
Airlines to local businesses in the Music City, to donate more than $30,000 in products and services to
bring the family here last weekend.
The program is the brainchild of three friends: Vincent Windrow, vice president of Zycron Computer
Services here; C.C. Alexander, the West Coast-based creator of a cartoon character named Shooter;
and Darrell Freeman, Zycron CEO.
Windrow believes Working Together is a model for other U.S. businesses. "You can duplicate this
anywhere and everywhere," he says.
The terrorist attack shattered the Morochos' extended family. Leonel Morocho, 36, and three other family
members died at the World Trade Center. Leonel's death left his 33-year-old widow, Marta, alone to raise
five daughters: Monica, 14; Sandra, 12; Beatriz, 8; Maribel, 7; and Vanessa, 5.
So Marta Morocho brought 10 other family members for her first vacation outside the New York area,
including her five daughters; her brother and sister-in-law, Elias and Miriam Mejia, who serve as her
interpreters; their 3-year-old son, Brandon; and Marta's mother, Hilda, and father, Salvador.
The family also picked up $6,000 in cash donations from Nashville-area residents. Freeman alone gave
them $5,000. His company spent $12,000 in cash and services to organize the event in just 3 weeks.
"This was a chance to make a direct impact on a family I could see, touch and feel," says Freeman, who
also invited the family to move to Nashville.
The family visited the Olive Branch Church in nearby Antioch, where Windrow serves as senior pastor.
His congregation raised $724 in donations for Sunday's special guests.
"Tennesseans have big hearts," Marta Morocho says. Among the businesses aiding her and her family:
- Hotels/Airlines. Loews donated $6,000 worth of rooms, meals and use of a conference room at its Loews Vanderbilt
property here. Morocho and her five girls stayed in a suite that usually costs $650 a night. "I hope we helped the family. They
have a long road ahead of them," says Irwin Fisher, regional vice president of sales and marketing. Southwest, meanwhile,
donated two round-trip tickets, according to spokesman Ed Stewart. Total cost: $800. The airline also invited family members to
purchase tickets at the lowest possible fares by waiving some restrictions. Freeman shelled out $3,000 to buy the rest of the
tickets. Local travel agency Wright Travel donated $1,200 worth of services.
- Pro Sports. The Nashville Predators hockey team donated the use of a luxury suite for family members to watch their first
hockey game. Cost: $3,000. The kids met a country singer on the way up to their luxury box. They screamed in delight when
team mascot Gnash visited the suite. "It's nice to impact people directly," says Jack Diller, team president.
- Dental Services. The family visited Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry where they received free cleanings worth
more than $1,000. New York-area alumni from one of the nation's oldest African-American colleges will donate dental work to
the family that will likely run more than $10,000. "Some of the girls need extensive work," Cherae Dixon says. A trip to the
dentist doesn't sound like Disneyland. But dental care is one of the most "overlooked" needs of poor families, notes Roderick
Frazier of Rivergate Dental Group. The students volunteered their time. "It was a nice treat for us," says senior Cristi Fletcher,
26.
- Limo Services. Local All-Star Limousine donated limousines, vans and cars for the 4-day visit. Cost: $2,340. "While we don't
have the means to help on a large scale, this provided us with an opportunity to show support locally," owner Michael Dozier
says. Says driver Bill Chadwick: "This is a great time of year to give something back."
- Restaurants/Shopping. Restaurant Zola hosted the family for dinner Saturday night. Cost: $500. Owner Ernie Paquette says,
"Marta and her daughters put a real face on the tragedy of the Window's restaurant employees." Each of the girls and Brandon
were given gift certificates for $50 at local malls.
The family became media stars in Nashville. Their visit was covered in The Tennessean newspaper and was featured on more than a
dozen local TV news segments. They visited the state Capitol Building and were named "Tennessee Ambassadors of Goodwill" by Gov.
Don Sundquist. The state is "honored to support victims of the World Trade Center tragedy," Sundquist says. The trip almost didn't come
off, Windrow says. The family almost backed out, fearing it was a scam. Alexander had to deal with the INS to get Morocho, who is not
a citizen, to Nashville. "Instead of worrying something can't be done, just do it," Alexander says. Alexander dreamed up the idea after
reading a USA TODAY story about Marta Morocho and her five girls. He knew the story would hit home with his childhood friend
Windrow, who never knew his father. "When I saw the picture of the Morocho family, I saw myself," Windrow says.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2008 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
|
By Bradley J. Boner, The Tennessean
via AP
Darrell Freeman embraces Marta
Morocho after giving her a check for
$5,000 in Nashville.
Morocho's husband died in the Sept. 11
attack.
via AP
Darrell Freeman embraces Marta
Morocho after giving her a check for
$5,000 in Nashville.
Morocho's husband died in the Sept. 11
attack.
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