Mortgages Get Paid By Atlanta Nonprofit 'Join the Flock'

ATLANTA, GA — An Atlanta man and his late wife’s friends are continuing to pay it forward by paying the mortgage for families in need. Mario Lazo and his daughters, Eden and Monica, along with nonprofit Join the Flock were on The Ellen DeGeneres Show for her Greatest Night of Giveaways in December.

Join the Flock was launched by Mario’s late wife, Jennifer Lazo, who died from breast cancer, reports WXIA. The nonprofit would help cancer patients with their mortgage for one month. She wrote a letter to Ellen before she died. Ellen’s producers received a second letter learning of the death and invited the family on.

After the girls were surprised by their favorite artist, Taylor Swift, the family was presented with another surprise. Inside a box was a paper with the amount of Lazo’s mortgage written down — $300,000 to pay it off.

Since the gift, the nonprofit has been able to pay four families’ mortgage. They hope to pay off a mortgage a week for the rest of the year.

To donate or nominate a family to receive a donation, visit Join the Flock.