Gratitude Sometimes Takes the Form of a Box of Lip Balm and Phone Cards

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 9, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- When Michael Montileone received news recently from his neighbor that their son was just awarded a U.S. Medal of Accommodation for Valor, he knew he wanted to show his gratitude.

Michael, who had served overseas in the Air Force, decided to put together a care package for the soldiers led by his young neighbor Evan Rea. Evan is a sergeant in Afghanistan, and though infrequently for obvious reasons, has kept in touch with Michael by letter. From his own experience, Michael knew that one of the things soldiers overseas cherish is mail from back home. Much of the time that mail comes from relatives and friends, but receiving care packages from strangers also lifts their spirits in a big way. So Michael sprang into action.

After preparing the package and a letter, Michael, who is a principal and a financial advisor at Allegheny Financial Group, decided to tell his colleagues what he was doing. Their reaction quickly blossomed into a full-blown care package effort for Evan's troops. Following Michael's lead, the advisors and staff at Allegheny put together 28 cartons of supplies for the troops. The boxes were filled with many of the items soldiers frequently request -- lip balm, mints, phone cards, tuna, crackers, and candies for the village children.

Michael, who is now trying to figure out how to show his gratitude to his colleagues as well, is hoping those 28 boxes satisfy the squad's hunger for mail for at least a couple of days.

SOURCE Allegheny Financial Group