KEEP POUNDING for the HEARTest Yard TEXT BY CASSIE HUTAFF PHOTOS COURTESY OF RECEPTIONS FOR RESEARCH:THE GREG OLSEN FOUNDATION With roots in Charlotte, many employees at Financial Independence Group feel a strong connection to the Carolina Panthers and their players. From casual work days recognizing season opening games to the excited chatter after a Carolina victory, FIG keeps pounding! But, the support doesn’t stop when the whistle blows. At our annual 2015 Sales Symposium held in April, special guest, Carolina Panthers’ Tight End, Greg Olsen joined the two-day meeting. You may be thinking, “Oh, he must have spoken about keeping a competitive spirit or maintaining a drive and love for the game.” But, Greg shed light on a more heart-warming topic. At the event, Olsen shared his personal story about caring for a child born with a heart defect. He and his wife Kara gave birth to T.J., in 2012. TJ was born with a rare and life-threatening heart condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
mortality rate, increase the life expectancy and improve the quality of life for children born with heart disease. Now for the real heart clincher. Surrounded by top-performing advisors, staff and other industry professionals, FIG spent one evening of the Sales Symposium raising funds in support of The HEARTest Yard program. By the end of the event, FIG presented The Greg Olsen Foundation a $27,000 donation. This significant contribution will assist many children born with congenital heart defects and their families. “FIG is a company full of families with young children that just so happen to be avid Panther fans. After hearing T.J.’s story, we were drawn to supporting The HEARTest Yard. What this foundation is doing is tremendous for these young children to give them a fighting chance,” FIG’s Chief Marketing Officer, Jim Cooper said.
“The generous amount of money raised in The family took action to provide TJ access to just one night to support this worthy cause the best doctors, state-of-the art treatment, is absolutely incredible,” Olsen said. “I hope techniques and technology. Because so much the world-class team at FIG understands the of the Olsen’s lives revolve around football, Clockwise: Greg, Kara, T.J., Talbot profound impact this contribution will have they started calling this phase in their son’s and Tate Olsen at FanFest. on the families we’re assisting right here at life “T.J.’s ‘HEARTest’ Yard.” Levine Children’s Hospital.” The HEARTest Yard grew from an expression into a program, now under the Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen As FIG continues to cheer for our hometown team, we Foundation. The charity was established in collaboration remember the fond memories of giving back to a wonderful with Levine Children’s Hospital to provide no-charge medical cause and helping Greg Olsen’s Foundation as he keeps support services to the families of babies born with congenital pounding for The HEARTest Yard. s heart disease. Services include in-home private nursing care, physical and speech therapy, and other benefits that serve as Cassie Hutaff, Copywriter, APM Division, Financial a complimentary extension of traditional hospital care. The Independence Group, Inc. Contact Cassie - Phone: 800-527-1155 program provides these services in an effort to reduce the Email: cassie.hutaff@figmarketing.com
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