Families Affected By the Webster Tornado

On Saturday August 4th the National Weather Service meteorologists reported that a twister with estimated wind speeds between 100 and 110 tracked from Dudley into Webster between 9:55 a.m. and 10 a.m. The tornado was rated a “high-end EF-1.”

Webster Fire Chief Brian Hickey said he’s never seen anything like this. One person sustained a minor injury and four buildings suffered major damage. That person was inside a car that was under debris from damage caused by the tornado on Main Street.

Officials say over 40 people from three buildings were displaced. The American Red Cross is providing hotel vouchers to shelter residents.

We will be holding an on air fundraiser for the Famikies affected by the tornado and are pledging to match all donations up to $5,000. Please consider making a donation in their time of need.

The Quinn Family

On Saturday, July 28th Kevin Quinn was tragically killed a little after midnight in Cotuit ,Ma in a motor vehicle crash as he was returning home from visiting his wife Kara (Sullivan) and their newborn baby daughter at the Cape Cod Hospital.

As he was driving home he was hit head-on by a vehicle driven by a person who was being pursued by police and crossed the center line into Kevin’s SUV.

Kevin is a combat veteran with two deployments to Afghanistan, returning home to marry the love of his life Kara Sullivan of Yarmouth.

We will be holding an on air fundraiser for the Quinn Family and are pledging to match all donations up to $2,500. Please consider making a donation in their time of need.

The Chesna Family

On Sunday Morning, Officer Michael Chesna of the Weymouth Police Department was shot and killed in the line of duty after responding to an incident behind South Shore Hospital. Officer Chesna, a graduate of Northeastern University, was just about to celebrate his six year anniversary on the force on Monday the 16th. Officer Chesna is a Veteran of the U.S. Army and served several tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. He leaves behind his loving wife and his beautiful daughter and son, ages nine and four. The Greg Hill Foundation will be holding an on-air fundraiser for the Chesna Family during the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show on Monday, July 16th. We will be matching all donations made up to $5,000.

The Breen Family

On April 29th, 2018 Bobby Breen woke up to find the mother and step-mother of his 4 young children unresponsive. Tragically, Liz had passed in her sleep after feeling ill the day before. The couple has 4 beautiful children all under the age of 14 years old.

The Greg Hill Foundation will be holding an on-air fundraiser for the Breen Family on the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show on Tuesday, May 1st. We have committed to matching all donations up to $10,000 for the Breen family in their time of need.

Officer Sean Gannon

On April 12th, 2018 K-9 Officer Sean Gannon of the Yarmouth Police Department was fatally shot in a Barnstable home while serving a warrant accompanied by members of the Barnstable Police and MA State Police. The Greg Hill Foundation held an on-air fundraiser for the Gannon Family on the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show on Friday, April 13th. We matched donations up to $10,000.

Scott Berry

On March 8th after a big nor’easter, Scott was headed over to his neighbors home to clear their steps, driveway, and walkway when a large branch fell from a tree and hit him. Scott suffered a severe spinal cord injury and is not expected to regain movement in his lower extremities. Scott, his wife, and his two kids in college are very generous with their time and active in the community.

On Wednesday, March 14th, The Greg Hill Foundation will hold an on-air fundraiser during the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show to help Scott and his family with this life-changing tragedy. We will be matching all donations up to $5,000. Please consider donating to help Scott and his family in their time of need.

Casagranda Family

On February 14th at about 1 PM, the Casagranda family’s home in Oxford, MA went up in flames from an unforeseen electrical fire. The two-alarm fire ripped through their home so quickly and powerfully that firefighters from six neighboring towns were called in for extra help. Luckily no one was home at the time of the fire, but Tony, Jackie, and all 4 of their children ranging from ages 8-15, have lost everything they own except the clothes on their backs. Both Tony and Jackie are Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and have put their lives on the line for the American Dream.

On Friday, February 16th The Greg Hill Foundation had an on-air fundraiser during the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show. We committed to matching all donations up to $5,000 to support the Casagranda Family in their time of need.

Families Affected By The Lynn Fire

On Monday, January 8th a fast-moving fire engulfed a three-story apartment building in Lynn, leaving one person injured and displacing 28 residents.

The four-alarm fire broke out at 26 Broad St. around 3:40 p.m., officials said. It spread into the building’s void spaces and surged upwards to the attic, sending flames and thick black smoke shooting into the air.

On Tuesday, January 9th the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show had an on air fundraiser for the families that were affected by this fire.

LeRocque Family

On Sunday, October 1st Rhonda LeRocque was one of the 58 people tragically killed in the Las Vegas shooting. Rhonda was at the concert with her husband, Jason, her 6-year-old daughter and her father-in-law. Her father-in-law had just left the concert with Rhonda’s 6-year-old daughter when the shooting started. Rhonda and her family live in Tewksbury, MA and have been extremely active in the community.

The Greg Hill Foundation has committed to matching all donations up to $10,000 to support the LeRocque Family in their time of need. On Tuesday, October 3rd the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show held a fundraiser for the LeRocque Family.

Marlana Ramsey

Marlana Ramsey (Shy to many) is a loving, caring, fighting mother of FOUR!

Marlana was hospitalized at Eliott Hospital in Manchester, NH on Saturday, April 22^nd due to several complications with her pregnancy. The hospital decided to keep her and monitor her condition. On Friday morning, Marlana suffered heart failure from the stress of the pregnancy. The Elliot staff did a fantastic job and Marlana was able to deliver 2 healthy baby boys. It was determined that her heart was not pumping effectively enough and she was immediately transferred to Catholic Medical Center Cardiac Unit. The care that she received there was amazing and she was stabilized and sent by Medflight to Mass General to further monitor her. Since being at Mass General Marlana has been on full life support because her heart can’t function on its own. Irreversible damage has been done to the left side of her heart and therefore Marlana underwent open heart surgery on Tuesday, May 9^th and has been placed as a priority on the heart transplant list. Marlana’s doctors determined she suffers from a rare condition called Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

Marlana has two daughters Ilithyia (5 years old) and Trulee (2 years old) and 2 healthy newborn baby boys who are currently at NICU at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, NH. Marlana’s husband Christopher Ramsey has been juggling the visits between the newborn babies in Manchester, his wife in Boston and two daughters staying with family in Gilmanton NH.

On Friday, May 12th we held an on air fundraiser throughout the WAAF Hill-Man Morning Show and matched donations up to $5,000.

Family of Trooper Daigle

On March 22, Massachusetts State Police Trooper Matthew Daigle passed way suddenly. While exercising, Trooper Daigle suffered a medical emergency that took his life. Trooper Daigle was highly-regarded and deeply respected by his brother and sister troopers, as well other members of the first-responder community who knew him. He was a member of the 80th Recruit Training Troop, and became a Massachusetts State Trooper upon his graduation in March 2012. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.

The Schultz Family

Ari Schultz was diagnosed at his 18 week ultrasound with critical aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome. For the last 5 years, Ari lived an eventful life both inside and outside the hospital. He’s a member of the Assumption College Baseball team, loves all things Harry Potter, adores his sister Lexi and brother Eli and is so excited to come home.

 After recently receiving the life-changing news that Ari would be getting a new heart in the beginning of March 2017, the Schultz’s were faced with yet another set of challenges. After the surgery, Ari’s body is battling rejection of his new heart. In addition, there was mold discovered in the walls of their loving home. Their home was deemed a “sick house”, unfit for fragile Ari and his family to live in. The whole family began to lose sight of home.

 Throughout all of this, the Schultz’s have consistently been charitable, willing to help others in need while dealing with their own struggles. It’s our turn to be there for them. The Schultz family needs our help now more than ever.

Update: Sadly, Ari Schultz passed away on July 21st, 2017. His family stated that he peacefully passed listening to the Red Sox. Thank you for your support of the Schultz family during this time.

Toscano Family

On the morning of March 17, 2017, Watertown Firefighter Joe Toscano lost his life while battling a fire. Joe leaves behind a wife and five children, 3 Boys and 2 girls ranging in age from 12-19. Joe was with the Watertown Fire Department for 21 years and the cook for the fire house. The Greg Hill Foundation will be matching up to $5,000 in donations for the Toscano family.

On Monday, March 20th the WAAF Hill-Man Morning show held a fundraiser for the Toscano Family.

The Lamb Family

Brian Lamb went into cardiac arrest on January 16th while driving through downtown Salem, MA with his four-year-old twins, Rex and Maggie.  Fortunately the kids were unharmed and helped by several bystanders, but Brian was rushed to Salem Hospital and then transferred to Mass General. He suffered extensive brain damage from lack of oxygen after his cardiac arrest and subsequently passed away on January 28th at the age of 46. As an organ donor, his lungs, kidneys and liver were donated. Brian leaves behind his children, as well as his wife, Erin.  

Help Us Help others, Nominate A Beneficiary

The Greg Hill Foundation responds to immediate requests for assistance, to improve the lives of local families touched by tragedy. To nominate a beneficiary you must fully complete the nomination form below. The foundation will review all nominations and qualifying nominations will be reviewed by the Board Of Directors. You will be notified of the board’s decision within one week of submission. Thank you for helping us help others.