Roof Donated to Glenside-Area Family Facing Rare Illness

Company responds to heartfelt outreach with a gift of hope and stability

Yesterday, Home Genius Exteriors (HGE) donated and installed a brand-new roof for the Rivera family, a local household navigating unimaginable challenges: three children diagnosed with a rare genetic liver disease.

Last week, the Riveras contacted HGE after noticing issues with their aging roof, including water damage worsened by recent summer storms. Following a thorough inspection, they were informed that a full roof replacement was needed. Despite HGE’s exhaustive efforts to find a viable financial solution, the family’s burden of medical bills, student loans, and living expenses made it impossible to move forward with the project.

Touched by the family’s heart-felt email sharing their personal story and praising the team’s extraordinary support, HGE decided to donate the roof in full, covering all materials and labor. Crews arrived at their home on Tuesday, July 22, to install the new roof.

“As a father of five, I was moved by the story of the Rivera family,” said Jeff Gunhus, CEO, Home Genius Exteriors. “Home Genius is proud to support the families in the communities in which we serve, and we are hopeful this small gesture will help ease their burden.”

What began in early 2022 as a health scare involving the family’s then three-year-old son led to a diagnosis of Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC), a rare, progressive liver disease. Within a year, their two younger children — a three-year-old and a five-month-old — were also diagnosed with the same congenital condition. As the family adjusted to the demands of life with three chronically ill children, they were also confronted with a cancer diagnosis for an immediate family member, further exhausting their financial and emotional resources.

“This is what community means—showing up, asking ‘How can I help?’ and offering support when it’s needed most,” said Austin Killian, Co-founder and Executive Vice President, Home Genius Exteriors. “The Rivera family’s story of strength and overcoming adversity reminds us why we do what we do.”

“It’s hard to put into words what this means to us,” said Angela Rivera, who first reached out to Home Genius Exteriors in an email sharing her family’s story. “We were trying so hard to find a way to make it work, but with everything happening, it just felt out of reach. This act of kindness made an overwhelming situation feel a little less heavy and gave us hope when we needed it most.”

This philanthropic project is part of the company’s Home Genius Cares initiative, which provides support, service, and donations to local communities. To learn more about PFIC and ways to support families affected by it, please visit www.pfic.org.