Fras-Air/General Service Experts of Hillsborough does a Really Cool Thing for Woman Fighting Breast Cancer

(Left to right) Sean May, Technician; Shannon Brown-Kaye; Michael Seminerio, Territory Manager, Lennox; Tina Jacobs, Director of Community Health, Susan G. Komen North Jersey; Kelly Nagle Witkowski, Executive Director, Susan G. Komen North Jersey; Richard Kaye; David Schneider, General Manager, Fras-Air/General Service Experts of Hillsborough. Photo: Hal Brown

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It is a time when kindness to strangers seems elusive. It is hard to find a good deed done for no other reason than to do good. And many companies are struggling to fend off an increasing public perception that “corporate America” is callous and greedy. In the midst, one New Jersey boss, at one extraordinary local New Jersey company, made a decision—truly from the heart—to help ease the struggle of another human being. David Schneider, General Manager of Fras-Air/General Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning in Hillsborough, did something really, really cool.

Last month, Schneider’s technicians made a service call to the home of Shannon Brown-Kaye, who lives in Flemington. There they found a 22-year-old air-conditioning unit that hadn’t worked in years, and couldn’t be repaired. But what they also discovered was that Shannon, a mother of five, had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy—a treatment that can cause severe hot flashes.

“Sean May, our technician, was very touched by her story,” said Schneider. “Her unit hadn’t worked in a few years, but this year she was facing the added discomfort of going through chemotherapy while also taking care of her family. Sean told me she wasn’t in a financial position to upgrade to a new system, and instead, was going to settle on a single window unit to get her through the hot summer months. We immediately decided to donate a system in cooperation with Lennox. She has been so gracious about our offer, and we have all been so affected by her courage.”

Shannon was diagnosed with breast cancer in January, and has already undergone two major surgeries. She began chemotherapy on March 20th, and will complete her treatments in August. “It took me a while to process the enormity of Fras-Air’s offer, and whether to accept it or not,” said Shannon. “I had already settled on getting a window unit for my family room so I could hang there when it got too hot—I expected going through chemo would not be fun in the heat of summer. My family is beyond grateful, and I am beyond touched.”

Schneider, his team, and Lennox donated an entire home comfort system, which was installed a little over a week ago: a new air conditioner unit, air handler, air purifier, duct work, a state-of-the-art thermostat and a 10-year warranty on parts, labor, and the compressor as well as maintenance. Mike Seminerio, Territory Manager for Lennox, said that when Schneider called him with Shannon’s story and asked him to collaborate, he didn’t hesitate. “My mom had breast cancer, and it runs in our family,” said Seminerio. “There is so much hatred in the world right now, and it was time for someone to do some good, to help out.”

Even Schneider’s employees have caught the “do good” bug; his technicians offered to donate their time to do the installation, but Schneider insisted on paying them. And many came to Shannon’s home the day the system was delivered, including Judy Collins, a Fras-Air Coordinator, who brought with her several pre-cooked meals for Shannon and her family. Everyone waited with great anticipation for the “big reveal,” and to share the surprise that was in store for Shannon. And then the moment arrived—the box covering the new air handler unit was removed—Shannon was speechless—there, created especially for her, was a one-of-a-kind Lennox unit completely wrapped in pink, with a beautiful tree-of-life decal adorned with pink breast cancer ribbons.

Kelly Nagle Witkowski, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen North Jersey, says that Schneider is a true hero. “Last Fall, Susan G. Komen began a MORE THAN PINK campaign, which encourages individuals to BE more than pink,” says Witkowski. “We want people to act, to donate, to take action, to do something that makes a difference. Dave is a genuine MORE THAN PINK hero, in every sense of the word, and we are so grateful to have him and Fras-Air as partners in the fight against breast cancer. We wanted to tell his story as an example of how one person, one company, can truly make a true difference in this world—one ‘act of kindness’ at a time.”

Schneider is no stranger to cancer; his mother had colon cancer, and two years ago, he decided to find a way to give something back. He covered two of his repair vans in pink, and committed a percentage of every service call in October (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month) to Susan G. Komen North Jersey as a donation.

The following year, Schneider had his vans “go pink” again, and now donates about $7,500 a year to Komen North Jersey. “Susan G. Komen has always been close to our hearts and our center,” added Schneider. “We are working with them to help Shannon continue to receive support so she can focus her energy and her family’s finances on the biggest priority in their lives right now—her fight against breast cancer.”

ABOUT SUSAN G. KOMEN NORTH JERSEY

Through their annual Race for the Cure®, Pink Tie Party and other events and activities, Komen North Jersey raises funds to support local community non-profit organizations that provide screening/diagnostic services, breast health/breast cancer education, treatment support, and survivorship programs for underserved women and men in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties. Since its founding in 1997, Komen North Jersey has awarded over $18 million in local community grants, and has directed more than $7 million to national research programs in pursuit of new breast cancer screening techniques, better and more effective treatment options, and ultimately, the causes and cures to eradicate breast cancer forever. Follow us on Facebook.com/KomenNorthJersey and on Twitter at #komennja.

About Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning North America

Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning locations have been serving their communities with air conditioning and heating repair, maintenance plans and new system installation for decades, and the average age of their service centers is over 50 years. Headquartered in Plano, TX, Service Experts is one of North America’s largest heating and air conditioning service companies with 90 locations across 29 U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Their team of NATE-certified technicians delivers expert service, repair, and installation on all brands of furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, air handlers, humidifiers, and indoor air purifying systems for both the residential and commercial markets. For more information on home comfort products, services and local rebates offered by Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, visit ServiceExperts.com.