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We Have a House to Build
Tyler
Palko remembers it like it
was yesterday. While the
then-rising football star
wanted to help lead his team
to victory, he was more
concerned about how he could
help make a difference in
the lives of others,
including his friend McGough,
now a special needs,
25-year-old adult.
While
some might view McGough’s
disability as a setback, he,
his family, and friends have
always seen the daily
challenges presented to him
as an opportunity to grow,
learn, and be thankful for
the wonderful relationships
that have formed while
learning to embrace
differences and help one
another. In McGough’s 25
years, he has defied the
odds and lives an active and
productive life in inspiring
fashion.
“As a
parent, you always want your
child to have the perfect
life,” said Steve, Chris’
father.
He
explained that when he and
his wife, Linda, found out
that Chris was diagnosed
with Down syndrome, they
feared how he would be
treated because of it.
“But
then, you stop and think,
aren’t we all different?” he
said.
Embracing their son, they
worked to create the best
possible environment for him
to succeed. It just so
happened that the best
possible environment
happened to be right where
they lived on Timberglen
Drive, in the company of
their neighbors, the Palko’s.
Steve recalled how Bob Palko
was a gym teacher at Wilson
Elementary School.
“[Bob]
greatly helped build Chris’
motor skills from an early
age,” said Steve.
As
the years went by, wherever
Bob and his son Tyler played
football, Chris was always
right alongside them.
Living
with Down syndrome presents
many challenges, among the
most difficult are the fear
of being treated differently
and struggling to gain
independence. Adults living
with Down syndrome are often
forced to live in group
homes outside of their
chosen or desired location -
places where they might not
feel comfortable or like an
outsider.
Anyone who knows Chris knows
he is anything but an
outsider. He sports his red
and grey West Allegheny
colors with pride, always
wears a warm smile on his
face, and seizes
opportunities to help
others. It’s not Chris’
disability that makes him
different; it’s his ability
to find hope and happiness
each day. He graduated from
West Allegheny High School
in 2007 and the St.
Anthony’s Program at
Duquesne University. Today,
he enjoys working as a
valued member of the team at
ACHIEVA, an organization
that serves individuals with
disabilities. One of the
most special things about
Chris is that he
inspired an organization
dedicated to helping others.
In 2005, Tyler and a
group of family friends
formed TC House, a nonprofit
organization with the
mission to build a group
home where individuals with
Down syndrome can live
independently in a family
community, as a part of the
community.
“Chris has taught me more
than I could ever imagine –
more than I could ever teach
him,” Tyler said, explaining
how he was inspired by Chris
to form TC House. “TC House
is a big byproduct of the
West Allegheny community…
Between golf outings and
donations, it’s great to see
everyone come together for
the cause.”
Bob Pompeani, KDKA sports
director and friend of the
TC House, has been emceeing
the event since its
inception nine years ago.
“Everyone comes together
to support a great cause,”
he said. “Each year
registration fills up
quickly. The support is a
testament to Tyler and
Chris’ friendship... They
still have a long way to go
and we are looking forward
to the outing again this
year.”
On March 1, 2014, after
years of planning,
fundraisers, and donations,
Tyler, the TC House Board of
Directors, friends, family,
and Findlay Township
supervisors broke ground at
the site of the house on
Oakwood Lane in a new
Maronda Home Development in
Imperial.
Once completed and fully
staffed, the house will be
home to four individuals
with Down syndrome. Working
with ACHIEVA, the TC House’s
Broad of Directors will
identify candidates for
residence in the house.
Chris is a candidate for
residency.
The house’s construction
is being overseen thanks to
the generosity, time, and
donations of Mike Cain at
Mascaro Construction, and
Jeff Dezulovich at JAD
Construction. Jennifer
Lindemuth has also been a
driving force, donating her
time and talents overseeing
the house’s interior design.
The work needed to build and
furnish the house also has
been undertaken by members
of the community, including
Ray Tomnay, the project’s
masonry sub-contractor,
Rosedale Technical
Institute, Rusmur Floors,
and many others.
Mike and Jennifer
explained that while the
organization raised
substantial funds for
construction, seizing on
opportunities to receive
donations has been helpful,
and in turn created
instructional opportunities.
Rosedale Technical Institute
donated students and staff
to install electrical and
HVAC throughout the house.
“They’re going to get a
lot of hands-on training,
and it will give us a lot of
help along the way,” said
Jennifer.
“When people can learn
from this and provide, it’s
a win-win for everybody,”
explained Mike.
With the momentum in
their favor post
groundbreaking, the team
explained that they still
have a long way to go before
finishing the house this
coming fall. They will
continue to rely on
donations, time, and
generosity from the
community to make the house
a reality.
Once complete, the house
could become a prototype for
future group homes.
Although the structural
foundation for the TC House
may have just been laid, the
friendships that created its
impetus formed years ago.
The team hopes to have the
house move-in ready by
Thanksgiving. Its residents
will then have all that much
more for which to be
thankful.
To learn more about the
TC House, please visit the
website: www.TCHouse.org.
The annual fundraiser for
the project, the 10th Annual
TC House Golf Outing, will
take place on June 27 at The
Club at Shadow Lakes.
Allegheny West Magazine
will continue to share house
construction updates. |
