01/29/2026
Written by employee, Deni Gaines:
In July, during the Central Texas flooding, one of my family members, Jack, lost everything he owned and we almost lost him. He lived just outside of Burnet, woke up in the middle of the night to knee-deep water in his trailer. When he felt it begin to move, he knew he had to get out fast. Around 4am, he went outside in the middle of the storm, into chest deep water, and bear-hugged a tree for what he believed was about an hour before the current slowed enough for him to make it to higher ground about 40 yards away. (Yes, that’s THE TREE he is hugging in the photos!)
Now, Jack is 92 years young, an Air Force veteran and always has a smile on his face. (We all say we come from hardy stock!) We’re all so thankful my cousin Matt was finally able to reach the farm a couple of days later to pick Jack up and take him to a doctor. Aside from a broken arm in the process, he was in good spirits and had a very grateful heart. Jack is such a great example!
But this is where Fairway comes in…because our Fairway Family offered financial support to many of those affected by the flood which was a huge blessing! I reached out and received a call from shortly afterward. She and the went above and beyond to help provide some much-needed assistance to get Jack back on his feet.
The way Fairway and shows up with compassion, generosity, and genuine care truly reflects the heart of who we are. On behalf of my family, especially Jack, I want to thank everyone who stepped in to help. Your kindness made a real difference for our family and many others, turning a time of loss into a story of hope and resilience. It’s an honor to be part of a company that doesn’t just talk about values but truly lives them, especially when one of our own needs it the most.
