New Milford Family Pays-it-Forward to the House
Pay-it-Forward became a familiar concept following the 2000 movie of the same title. The premise is a simple one: repay the good that has happened to you by doing good works for other people. The Gonzalez family put this concept into action and named the Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut as the recipient of a $10,000 donation made in the name of the family who purchases their home.
Monica and Carlos Gonzalez, Connecticut homeowners who are moving to Ohio, hoped to set an example for Connecticut residents this December when they decided to donate $10,000 from the sale of their home in New Milford. They call their campaign Home with a Heart and hope that others selling their homes will donate a portion to the Ronald McDonald House or to another charity of their choice.
The donation will be made in the name of the new homebuyers.
“As the old saying goes, home is where the heart is and this is no
exception. Our home is much more than the sum of its four walls,
which is why we want to give something back to the community that
has been a home to us for many years,” said Monica and Carlos.
“More importantly, our home will help families of sick children establish a safe and comforting home environment during their time of need.” Monica and Carlos know first-hand how hard it can be when a family faces cancer or another medical challenge. Monica’s father died of cancer and her mother is a breast cancer survivor. Carlos’
mother was diagnosed with lymphoma last year and is now in remission after receiving treatment.
This unique donation came as a wonderful surprise to Director of Development and Marketing Michael Rohde. “The Gonzalez family epitomizes the generosity that keeps our House going,” he said. “It’s a pay-it-forward concept that has already inspired a $500 donation from a resident of Avon who read the story in a local paper.” The Gonzalez home is still for sale. You can visit their website at www.newmilfordhome.com to learn more about the 10-room house which they built in New Milford in 2004.
