In fact, the R.W. belongs to my younger brother, Robert William, who died of lung cancer in 1997. He was just 38 years old. We were very close and as a tribute to his memory, I named the company after him.

As any person who has lost a loved one, particularly one as young as my brother, I know first hand how devastating it can be for everyone concerned. At the same time, I also found out how important a simple act of kindness or support can be to those who are going through a time of crisis. As a result, I felt that I needed to find a way that I could help people who were in trouble.

That opportunity presented itself when I went to give an estimate for a new roof at the home of Leslie and Chris Russell in Cutchogue, NY. I knew right away that these were special people. They greeted me warmly, invited me into their home and told me a little about themselves and their family. I noticed a photograph of a very cute little girl and I commented on it. The picture was of their grandchild, Anna, who was suffering from a rare disease called, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. I had never heard of it before and they explained it was a debilitating genetic disorder that causes tumors and leisions to form throughout the body, primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin and lungs. As we spoke, I could tell how heartbroken they were over this but as they explained, they were trying to deal with it in the most positive way they could...by raising awareness and funds for TSC. I knew at once that I wanted to reach out to this family.

I figured their job to be worth $5000 and presented the estimate, which they approved. However, I could not get past the thought of Anna's suffering and what it was doing to her family and as they signed the contract, I knew what I wanted to do. I would take the $5000 and donate it to a foundation that funds research to find a cure for TSC. Words cannot express the experience the Russell's and I shared at that moment. It was truly a special moment in my life. I like to call it a "Life Changing Moment". I had found a way that I could help people in crisis and further honor my brother's name.

Since then, the RW Mulligan Company has adopted policies and practices that are in keeping with the idea of helping those in need. We believe it is a responsibility of every successful business to give something back to the community and we encourage other contractors to follow our lead and reach out to the less fortunate who cross their paths.

Our latest project (pictured below) was the installation of a new roof on a Habitat for Humanity house that was being built for a young mother and her three daughters. In this case, Riverhead Building Supply provided the materials, free of charge, while the RW Mulligan Company donated the labor.