Author Description

Some people spend a lifetime looking for their life’s purpose. Others just know. Eugene “Gene” Verdu had a calling. From the time he was a child, he knew he was meant to help others by any means possible. At Your Service recounts this universally loved man’s extraordinary life as a teacher and philanthropist. From the age of 17, he was a leader in humanitarian outreach. Following years of volunteer work in Central America, he founded the Belize Children’s Project. This organization connects medical professionals, caregivers, and host families with children who have orthopedic disabilities and provides high-quality medical care at no cost to these children. Through his hard work with the Belize Children’s Project, Gene saw firsthand the value that a network of philanthropists and charitable organizations can deliver to the underprivileged, impoverished, and marginalized people of all ages. To this very day, the generations of kids he has helped in Belize refer to him as “Uncle Gene.” Equally as significant are his contributions to elderly citizens through his tireless charitable work, including his role in starting programs that have benefited thousands, including local, regional programs. Gene was nominated by multiple U.S. presidents four times as a voting delegate at the White House Conference on Aging. He also served as Chairman of the Illinois Council on Aging. This selfless man’s lifelong desire and drive to help others were infectious. Family, friends, and even those kids he helped in Belize were inspired by Gene’s love for humanity. Many went on to work in charity in some capacity. Gene passed away in early 2022, but not before sharing his life story with Mike Stith. As this book was being written, his unflagging hope was that this story would inspire others to reach out and find ways in which they, too, can help their fellow human beings. What better legacy could he—or anyone, for that matter—leave behind?