For more information:
Andrew Johnson
GreenPath Communications Manager
(248) 488-0419 – office
(248) 880-3271 – cell

GREENPATH DEBT SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES 2011 MICHIANA CLIENT OF THE YEAR
Buchanan, Michigan family pays off debt despite health setbacks

(SOUTH BEND, IND. – June 2, 2011) GreenPath Debt Solutions, a nationwide nonprofit financial organization providing consumers with financial education in housing, debt management and bankruptcy concerns, recently announced its 2011 GreenPath Clients of the Year representing Michiana.

Dawn and David VanDyke of Buchanan, Michigan, overcame obstacles in paying off more than $48,000 in debt in a little over four and half years through GreenPath’s debt management program. Watch the attached video: Meet the VanDykes.

Living The American Way
When David and Dawn were first married, they lived in a small converted schoolhouse in Niles, Michigan. After they welcomed their son, Jacob, now 9, they moved into a larger house in Buchanan, where their financial problems began.

“In owning a new, larger house, we ran up credit card bills quickly,” recalled Dawn. “Originally, I convinced myself that this was the American way, getting a bigger house and using more credit, but I soon realized things were getting out of hand. The collection calls started and we were juggling month to month as to who we were going to pay. We always felt the responsibility to pay our debts, but after awhile, we just couldn’t make ends meet.”

Recalling a magazine article on GreenPath, she looked up the local GreenPath office in South Bend, Indiana, a short drive over the Michigan border. “We brought a mountain of paperwork to our first meeting,” David explained. “We felt embarrassed not being able to pay off our debt, but when we saw a huge plastic water jug filled with cut up credit cards, we realized we weren’t alone.”

A family set-back
Shortly after their first appointment with GreenPath, their son, Jacob, suffered a seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. “From that day forward he was in the hospital 13 times in six months,” Dawn said. Furthermore, in order to care for Jacob, Dawn and David made the decision that she would resign from her job for six months. Despite the setback, the couple continued their debt management program.

Dawn remembers that the first year on the debt management program showed slow, but steady, progress. They made the monthly payment their priority payment.  Each year, on the anniversary of their first visit to GreenPath, they would meet with their counselor to monitor their progress.  “It was great to see the total drop from $30,000 to $20,000,” said David. “Once we got under $10,000, we were elated and really felt that we were going to make it,”

Amanda Walker, GreenPath’s group manager of the Sound Bend office, recalled that there were times when the VanDyke’s came up with extra money and would make the 25-minute drive to present the money in person to pay down their debt even quicker. “They were very serious about keeping up with payments and put any extra money they could towards paying off their debt,” said Walker.

Looking Back – Asking for help is the first step
Last July, the VanDyke’s made the final payment on their debt management plan. They drove to GreenPath’s office in Mishawaka, Indiana, to watch their debt numbers be zeroed out. “We did a big cheer on that day,” Dawn said.

The couple stresses how important it is for people in debt to be honest with themselves and not be afraid to ask for help. “GreenPath helped us with paying all our bills each month, it took a lot of pressure off us,” David explained. “Today, being debt free, we feel we can pay off anything.”

Now, the VanDyke’s are working on other debts. Today, they take what was their monthly GreenPath payment and have paid off David’s truck. “Now we are going to work on paying down our home equity and then we’ll tackle school bills next,” said Dawn with a smile.

For more information or to make an appointment for face-to-face counseling, please call (866) 648-8122.