Putting a smile on a child's face

Related Photos

Release date: September 02, 2009  /  Print This     RSS    

Few things in life can be as rewarding as putting a smile on the face of a child with a life-altering illness. Three area businessmen saw their chance recently, and the results were deeply appreciated by an area teenager and his family.

Eighteen-year-old Nick K., whose parents asked that his identity not be revealed, is undergoing chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He recently mentioned to a nurse his desire for a repainting of his 1995 Chevy Lumina, which was given to him by his grandfather.

The hospital contacted Jeff Mullen, a board member at Little Smiles, a Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of ailing children. Jeff, who is also executive vice president of Apple Vacations, called his friend Tom Monaghan, vice president of Maaco Collision Repair & Auto Painting, based in King of Prussia. Tom, in turn, contacted franchisee Scott Bailey, whose Keyport, N.J., shop is located near the home of Nick and his family.

Scott didn’t hesitate to provide a top-of-the-line $1,000 change from white to black at no cost. “I believe you do a good thing and good things will eventually happen to you,” he says.

“Scott did a terrific job,” said Nick’s father. “Nick’s still in the hospital, and my daughter sent him snapshots she took with her phone. He’s ecstatic and has been looking at the pictures ever since. Kudos to Scott.”

Little Smiles and its community partners strive to provide the things kids love the most while they are in local hospitals, hospices and shelters. For more information, please email jmullen@applevacations.com.