Barbara and Tom Hassan have supported Lacasa for over 25 years—because they believe in the power of home, community, and giving back.

“We who have, have to give,” said my great Aunt Opal, as she slipped a folded $20 bill into the back pocket of her neighbor. Karl had completed porch repairs for my widowed aunt. I was 7! My grandma Effie, sister Opal, their four siblings, and my great-grandparents lived in a log plank house in the middle of the Mark Twain Forest in Missouri. Their home was built with the assistance of friends and neighbors.

This unremarkable home provided safety, security, and comfort. Lacasa strives to provide these same qualities through its varied programs. Affordable housing options, financial empowerment classes, and neighborhood integration are pillars of the organization. I have never forgotten the concept of giving, nor the kindness of Karl, whose repairs far exceeded $20.