What began as a small gesture of gratitude from Fran and Michael Lanari of Little Rock has grown, to date, into a quarter-of-a-million-dollar endowment fund.
It's an inspiring story of how much can be accomplished with thankfulness and generosity as the driving forces.
When the couple's son Michael Joseph was born with Down syndrome, they became familiar with Arkansas Children's Hospital.
"We had children late in life," explains Fran, now 54, who was 40 when their daughter Rachael, now 14, was born and 42 when Michael Joseph, now 12, arrived. "Before then, we had never used the services of Arkansas Children's Hospital."
But when Michael Joseph, born in late 2001, needed open heart surgery when he was 4 1/2 months old, the couple became very familiar with the hospital. Since then, he has continued to visit the hospital for other health issues, including eye surgery.
The care and compassion the Lanaris encountered there, not just for Michael Joseph but for their entire family, had an impact on the couple.
"We said that one day we would repay the kindness the hospital and its staff provided us and all other patients' parents there regardless of their ability to pay," Michael, 54, says.
"They care as much about the families as they do the patients," Fran says. "Our daughter recently needed services there after she had a seizure and she received the same level of wonderful service. That shows us the hospital has that same level of care whether it involves a surgery like Michael's or an emergency situation like Rachael's."
The couple, who own Kitchen & Bath Concepts at 9805 W. Markham St. in Little Rock, found a way to "repay" the hospital beginning in 2006 after they launched the annual Home Expo at their store. "When we opened the store, we were so busy we never got around to holding a grand opening," Fran says. "After a year, we wanted to hold a celebration but after all that time, thought it would be silly so decided to do a home expo show instead."
"We usually have 20 to 25 vendors participating with us and 300 to 500 guests," Michael says.
The first expo raised $11,000 for Children's Hospital. All the money raised by the Lanaris goes into an endowed fund they created that was recently valued at more than $250,000. Proceeds from the endowment are designated to be used for the greatest need at the hospital.
"Fran and Michael Lanari are passionate volunteers for Arkansas Children's Hospital," says Justin DeLille, director of corporate giving with the Arkansas Children's Hospital Foundation.
"They have turned their personal experiences with the hospital into a drive to help patients and families across the state," he says. "Their support enables the hospital to purchase the newest equipment, support the most cutting-edge research and provide needed funds for family service programs. The Lanaris are truly making a difference for the kids of Arkansas through their support of Arkansas Children's Hospital."
"The first year we donated the money to the hospital we put it toward the palliative care program but later established the Lanari endowment fund," Michael says. "I think most people assumed we would put it toward research for Down syndrome but we felt the hospital was in the better position to know what needs most needed to be addressed. We believe the hospital will do the right thing."
"The first year we set out some jars and raised a couple $100 and the second year, we set out some some more jars and raised a couple thousand dollars," Fran says. "Then Michael had the idea to contact the vendors we work with and ask them to make donations of silent auction items."
That third year, the couple went from raising $2,000 to $28,000. Today, more than $50,000 in auction offerings are being offered. Some of the items are being promoted on the business's Facebook page at facebook.com/KitBathConcepts.
"It's a win-win situation; even for those who aren't interested in the auction items," says Michael of the public event. "You can come and learn about different products for the home and kitchen." An added bonus? Free hamburgers and hot dogs.
"We spend about $12,000 to $15,000 out of pocket," Michael says. "There is no charge to the vendors to set up here and we can accommodate nearly 20 of them here. We ask them to donate a service or an item; if they're a business that can't donate something like that, we ask them to give something like a gift certificate to a local restaurant."
While their business is usually open six days a week, the Lanaris don't conduct any of their regular business during the expo, from which 100 percent of the proceeds is donated to the hospital.
"It's just the two of us and our one employee, Andrea Eskola," Fran says. "We plan to continue as long as we have the energy and the life in us. It's a lot of hard work and wears us out. But after a week of rest and seeing how much was raised, we say, 'OK. We can do this again.'"
The couple met in the 1990s while attending a wedding -- Michael is from Jackson, Tenn., while Fran hails from nearby Alamo. At the time, Fran was living in Houston and working for NASA as a project manager in the robotics department before moving to Arkansas in 1996. Michael started his business in Little Rock in 1997 and developed the showroom in 2005.
Michael appears as a guest chef on KATV, Channel 7's Good Morning Arkansas show, for which he built the original kitchen set. He also previously hosted a Saturday morning radio show, first on KABZ-FM, 103.7, "The Buzz," and later on KARN-FM, 102.9, news radio.
During their spare time, they are involved in their children's extracurricular activities. Rachael is a competitive volleyball player with the Junior Olympics and Michael Joseph loves singing and performing in front of an audience.
The family attends Christ the King Catholic Church in west Little Rock and Fran volunteers with the Arkansas Down Syndrome Association, which sponsors an annual brunch for new mothers of children with Down syndrome.
"Sometimes it helps settles their nerves to learn things like 'Yes, you can expect to still be changing diapers at 4 years old,'" Fran says.
She also offers monthly devotionals in which she shares her experiences as the mother of a child with Down syndrome.
"If I was told I could go back in time and Michael Joseph could be born without this and I could have my memory erased of what this is like, I wouldn't do it," Fran says. "Being a parent of a child with Down's syndrome changes you; it makes you a completely different person."
Michael agrees.
"When people found out we had a baby with Down syndrome, some told us, 'This is a blessing,'" he says. "Back then, we didn't understand what they meant but now we do."
The ninth annual three-day expo will be held this year at the store from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 5 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6, with a silent auction offering more than $50,000 worth of goods and services from kitchen and bath suppliers. An invitation-only A Night Out, for Children's Sake "wine and design" preview party, featuring smaller auction items such as restaurant certificates and gift baskets, will be held the evening of Sept. 4. Those wishing to attend the preview party can contact the store at (501) 225-5221 for an invitation. During the remainder of the event, the silent auction featuring larger-ticket items will conclude at 3 p.m. Sept. 6.
High Profile on 08/10/2014