Family House Presents 2009 Trailblazer Award

Hennion and Walsh recognized for outstanding leadership and commitment to increasing awareness for the critical need for organ donation.

Image of Richard Hennion, left, of Hennion & Walsh poses with the Heller Family and Debra Roberts, right, Director of the Family House after receiving the Trailblazer Award.

Zoom+ Richard Hennion, left, of Hennion & Walsh poses with the Heller Family and Debra Roberts, right, Director of the Family House after receiving the Trailblazer Award.

In good times and in bad. It's a commitment typically reserved for wedding vows. But at Hennion & Walsh, an investment services company in Parsipanny, NJ, their commitment to treating their employees and clients as family – in good times and bad – has earned them the 2009 Trailblazer Award from Gift of Life Family House and sets them apart from other companies. This award recognizes an organization for its outstanding leadership and commitment to increasing awareness for the critical need for organ donation.

Inspired to Act by Jackson's Liver Transplant

And behind this award, there’s a fascinating history. Gregg Heller has been employed at Hennion & Walsh since 1995. In June, 2002, Gregg and his wife, Gabi, of Lafayette, New Jersey, learned that their son, Jackson, was born with a rare liver disease. After a seemingly never-ending cycle of doctors, hospitals, blood transfusions and procedures, Jackson was admitted to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in December, 2003, where he would spend the next three months and require two liver transplants. With the blessing of Hennion & Walsh executives, Gregg spent as much time at Jackson’s bedside as possible. Both parents traveled back and forth between Philadelphia and their home in New Jersey and juggled hospital responsibilities and life at home with Jackson’s older sister, Morgan. To read more about the Hellers, click here or watch the video below.

Video: Jackson's Mulligan on Life

In the game of golf, a mulligan is a chance for a second shot. A mulligan in life, getting a second chance at life, is something six year old Jackson Heller knows all about.

Hennion & Walsh stood by Gregg and his family in 2003 and continues to generously support the cause that has touched their lives – organ donation. For the past five years, Hennion & Walsh has sponsored a golf outing – the Jackson’s Mulligan On Life Golf Outing - to benefit Gift of Life Donor Program and raise awareness for the critical need for organ donors. A fitting name for this annual fundraiser, a mulligan happens when a golfer gets a second chance to perform a certain move or action. Through his liver transplant, Jackson has received a mulligan on life – a second chance at life.

Hennion & Walsh stood by the Heller family in 2003 and continues to generously support Family House and organ donor awareness programs.

Last year, Hennion & Walsh made a multi-year commitment to underwrite the Family Entertainment Lounge in the new Gift of Life Family House through proceeds from the annual golf outing. This year’s event, held May 18 at Brooklake Country Club in Florham Park, welcomed over 100 golfers, raised more than $25,000 for Gift of Life Family House and brings the total raised in two years to over $50,000.

Hennion & Walsh has created a remarkable corporate culture that treats employees and clients as family and encourages their employees and clients to join them in putting their priorities for families before profits. Their generosity and commitment has earned them the Gift of Life Family House Trailblazer Award.