Father Gio Belanich, spearheads the Croatian Relief Services agency in Fairview, New Jersey. What do they have in common? Both have roots on the small Kvarner Croatian island of Ilovik. Father Gio founded Croatian Relief Services atthe time of the wars in the Balkans in th early 1990s. His service agency provided much needed medical and material supplies to people in need in Croatia. As time passed and the needsin Croatia lessened, Father Gio, using his know how and established organization,, turned his efforts to help the people of Haiti, one of the poorest places on Earth. Teresa, raised in Nebraska, shares the compassion demonstrated by the good work of Father Gio in Haiti.

Teresa Scanlan is the daughter of Mark and Janie Scanlan and is from Gering, Nebraska, where she was home schooled with her six siblings. Her maternal grandparents are Frank Na Nives Jelich who were born and raised on the island of Ilovik in Croatia