Help The Jeff Mathews Family

Chuck Bauer is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Jeffrey Mathews.

Donation protected

Jeff Mathews is a long-time friend and client. Recently, via Hurrican Laura, Jeff and his family suffered incredible losses on many fronts as evidenced by the photos. Jeff and his large family have been dramatically affected and they could use financial help NOW. As a friend of their family, I believe in my friends and clients to help out the Mathews family. Please read a personal note from Jeff (below), review the pictures of his family homes, and his office that use to be in the now-famous Lake Charles, LA high-rise building.

I'd like to say THANKS IN ADVANCE for ANY contribution that you can help the Mathews's family with.

A note from Jeff to me describing his losses:

As a practicing CPA working with small businesses, our economy and my clients have taken a hit. I have already lost many accounts as their businesses are closed. COVID-19 was a struggle for many, and Hurricane Laura finished many of them off. The remaining clients need help with their business needs, but I myself am not in a position to assist. Our leased office building of 21 stories had all the windows blown out and I have not been able to enter the property, but figure a total loss of equipment, furniture, and paperwork. Insurance can not assist until we can show a loss, no timeframe in sight, so my business is stopped at the moment with client requests pouring in.

On the personal side, as a father of 4, one on the autism spectrum things are difficult. My son, recently married with 2 young children lost his mobile home and belongings, he will be moving in with us temporarily. We have a lot of property damage, and after 2 weeks just regained power at home so I can type this. We are fortunate that we did not have a loss of life and will make it through. We do have insurance, but as many, we are experiencing the hurricane deductibles on our policy, mine is $26,000 and was only 5% of my policy, and my exterior structure limit is $53k. We probably have $95k in damage. I am not in the position to rebuild as before, even with insurance. FEMA is no help if you have insurance, RED CROSS is not assisting as in Rita and Katrina. This is definitely not the Hurricane Katrina of yesteryear with monetary help. There is no emergency assistance, housing provided in limited cases of full non-insured losses.

Many lost more than I have with complete loss of homes and belongings, so I am thankful for what I do have. I have my family, and friends like you willing to help. With you I have learned that you have to push forward through challenges each and every day. The hardest part has been watching my son and his wife cry after losing their first home and belongings and trying to hold back my own issues to tell him everything will be ok.

I am usually not the one asking for help, you know that. But this has been a damaging blow to both my family and my small business, it has created a financial difficulty, which multiplies until I can get back on my feet. What hurts the most is that the autism clinic I built in 2013 needs my CPA help, but I do not have the resources to assist. An example of him needing SBA loan assistance, financials, loss projections, so he can get his insurance going.

A very moving message from Jeff.