Help Brenda and Gennaro Keep Their Business Going

This is my friend Brenda and her family. Her husband Gennaro isn't in this picture because he's taking it. Brenda and Gennaro are two of the hardest-working people I know. Brenda used to be our nanny and then she and her husband decided to start not just one, but two businesses. They do house cleaning and they set up and throw kids' parties.

They are truly pursuing the American Dream of owning your own business! But that dream requires them to have a working vehicle. And last week this happened.

A giant branch from a city-maintained tree fell on their SUV. Luckily, no one was in the car. But now the car is unsafe to drive and their two businesses are in jeopardy. Unfortunately, their insurance doesn't cover this, so Brenda and Gennaro have to say good-bye to their trusty 2002 Toyota Sequoia with 299941 miles.

They need a new SUV and they are not aiming for anything fancy or even "new."

They found a potential replacement- a 2003 Sequoia with a mere 156,794 miles on it. But in this crazy high-priced used car market, even that will cost $8000.

Sure the city is probably at fault because they knew the tree was likely to drop branches. Check out the X they carved in the branch last time they trimmed the tree.

But Brenda and Gennaro can't wait to see if and when the city is ever going to compensate them. They need to keep their businesses going NOW. They need a replacement SUV, right away. All the money we collect for them will go straight to paying for that vehicle.

Can you help Brenda and Gennerao and their family? Please, help keep their piece of the American dream alive.