Community Outreach
Community Outreach Program
Featured Partnership
August 2024
The Kessel Family
The Kessel family from White Bear Lake has been selected through the Gradient Gives Back Community Outreach Program to receive 12 months of housing payments and other various gifts. This amazing surprise was revealed to them on August 21. Paladin Financial and Gradient Financial Group are awarding the mortgage payments, and many generous local businesses also donated.
Additional donors included Tramm Law Firm, PLLC, Stonehouse Catering, InMotion Fitness, Tammy Brice Creative, Nelson’s Ice Cream, Gradient Annuity Brokerage, Skinfatuation Aesthetics, Hilton Garden Inn, Kowalski’s, Apple Spice, Manitou Bar & Kitchen, Axels, Tony’s Amoco Shoreview, DoubleTree by Hilton, Jay Dacey Mortgage Team, and POD’s Car Care.
In March 2024, the Kessel family’s world was turned upside down when their 17-year-old son, Gabe, was diagnosed with Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG), an aggressive and rare type of brain cancer. This devastating news has brought unimaginable challenges for the family, but they have shown incredible resilience and strength throughout this difficult journey.
Joseph and Anna Kessel are both pillars of our local community, with Joseph being a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq and now works in medical device training, and Anna being a dedicated nurse at Regions Hospital. Together, they have been married for 27 years and have three children still living at home.
Their youngest son, Gabe, was a rising star in the wrestling world until his diagnosis. Despite facing intense treatment and emotional tolls, Gabe remains determined to live life as fully as possible. The Kessel family has shown incredible support for one another, with their other children taking on household responsibilities and showing compassion for their brother.
Jeff Foley, Owner of Paladin Financial, commented, “As a company, we are proud to stand with the Kessel family during this difficult time and provide them with some relief through our partnership with Gradient Gives Back Foundation. We believe that supporting our community is an essential aspect of our business, and we are honored to be able to make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.
