The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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April 12, 2006

Foundation seeks input on how to aid siblings

By Michael Roknick

MERCER — The Community Foundation said it will be contacting people who donated money to help a mentally-challenged brother and sister keep their Mercer home.

Barbara and Ralph Thompson’s home was scheduled to be sold at sheriff’s sale next month because they stopped paying on a mortgage from Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Corp. for minor construction work at their East Venango Street home.

Wells Fargo forgave the loan last week after an outcry from the Thompsons’ friends and Mercer residents who said the two signed documents they couldn’t possibly understand.

Since the Thompsons no longer face foreclosure, Larry Haynes, director of the nonprofit Community Foundation, said he wants to give donors options on how the $6,000 collected thus far should be used.

Alternatives include everything from setting aside the money for needed repairs to the Thompsons’ home to creating a trust fund so the money can be used for a variety of their needs from home repairs to medical treatments.

“I kind of feel like we need to give donors that option,’’ Haynes said. “We want the community to know that they were generous and that we’ll be using the donations to benefit that family over a long period of time.’’

Letters will be mailed to all the known donors to give them a choice.

“This story touched a chord in the hearts of people,’’ Haynes said.

In the meantime, Robert Kochems, the Thompsons’ attorney who is donating his time to help them, said he is working to find a way to protect their home from similar problems in the future. Other lawyers have stepped forward to help Kochems develop a legal strategy.

“We’re looking at different trust vehicles to do that,’’ Kochems said. “We still have to find a way to protect the house with the Thompsons’ consent.’’



Anyone with questions concerning donated funds for the Thompsons can call the Community Foundation at: 724-981-882.

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