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Design Development NYC Rebuilds Hurricane Sandy Victims' Home For Free (VIDEO)

It started with an alumni community's effort to help their beloved coach.
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They say the best teachers leave lasting impressions. For Trinity School's athletics coach Fred Toborg, the saying rings true. Toborg and his wife, Barbara, were among the many families whose homes were devastated by Hurricane Sandy. In a touching display of support, a community of alumni rose to his aid. One of the former students, Chip Brian, happens to be the co-owner of Design Development NYC, an interiors company that specializes in architectural restoration. When he learned about the Toborgs' predicament, he volunteered to rebuild their home for free.

As residents of Broad Channel, Queens, the Toborgs' home of 28 years was compromised due to its proximity to the area's salt marshes. Fred Toborg told NY1, "I just had to laugh at the mess, because you can't cry, you just have to take things the way they come and do the best you can."

Brian's firm is dedicated to implementing a greener approach to their projects, which is why their construction plans involved renovating the couple's home in a more sustainable fashion. According to Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President of the World Resources Institute, rebuilding wrecked shoreline homes can benefit from green infrastructures since they reduce a home's vulnerability against future storms.

Crises often bring communities together and inspire remarkable support systems. Design Development NYC is just one company that is offering aid in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Aside from relief organizations and donations, we've come across other companies who have offered their services to Sandy victims.

To learn more about the couple's story, head over to NY1's report.

Companies Helping Sandy Victims
U-Haul(01 of15)
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U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. (credit:AP)
Home Depot(02 of15)
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Home Depot donated $1 million to help fund hurricane relief, the Atlantic Business Chronicle eeports. Home Depot also shipped out hundreds of truckloads of supplies to affected areas throughout the northeast, according to The Wall Street Journal. (credit:Getty Images)
Walmart(03 of15)
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Walmart has said it will donate $1.5 million to the relief effort, according to NBC News. (credit:AP)
JP Morgan Chase(04 of15)
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JP Morgan Chase waived overdraft and late fees on loans and credit cards during the brunt of the storm, Time reports. (credit:AP)
The NFL(05 of15)
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The NFL Players' Union has pledged to donate $1 million to the Red Cross to help those affected by Sandy, ESPN reports. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Airbnb(06 of15)
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The hotel and travel website Airbnb is waiving its fees in affected areas of the northeast. CEO Brian Chesky has urged the hotels listed on the site to lower their rates in light of the recent events, Newsweek reports. (credit:WikiMedia:)
CVS Caremark(07 of15)
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CVS Caremark will donate more than $150,000 worth of food and water to the Red Cross, the Sacramento Bee reports. (credit:AP)
Kohl's(08 of15)
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Kohl's plans to donate $1 million in cash to the Red Cross and is encouraging its employees to volunteer in the relief effort, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9d12e1e4b03a1dcc844b2e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="10" data-vars-position-in-unit="17">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58871905@N03/7055247871" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="dno1967b" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9d12e1e4b03a1dcc844b2e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/58871905@N03/7055247871" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="11" data-vars-position-in-unit="18">dno1967b</a>)
Viacom(09 of15)
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Viacom is donating $1 million to the relief effort and is working to help Viacom employees who were impacted by the hurricane, Mother Nature Network reports. (credit:AP)
New York Yankees(10 of15)
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The Yankees are donating $500,000 to the Red Cross, according to NJ.com. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Chevrolet(11 of15)
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Chevrolet has donated 50 large vans to the Red Cross to help bring relief to those in need, Auto World News reports. (credit:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Flickr" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9d12e1e4b03a1dcc844b2e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="5" data-vars-position-in-unit="12">Flickr</a>:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53879101@N03/8046170499" role="link" class=" js-entry-link cet-external-link" data-vars-item-name="Ashwin Nellore Photography" data-vars-item-type="text" data-vars-unit-name="5b9d12e1e4b03a1dcc844b2e" data-vars-unit-type="buzz_body" data-vars-target-content-id="http://www.flickr.com/photos/53879101@N03/8046170499" data-vars-target-content-type="url" data-vars-type="web_external_link" data-vars-subunit-name="before_you_go_slideshow" data-vars-subunit-type="component" data-vars-position-in-subunit="6" data-vars-position-in-unit="13">Ashwin Nellore Photography</a>)
PG&E(12 of15)
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West coast energy company PG&E sent trucks, equipment, and workers to the east coast earlier this week. The PG&E crews are expected to stay and help north-easterners for the next few weeks, Fox WBRC reports. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Disney(13 of15)
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The Walt Disney Company is donating $2 million to help victims of Hurricane Sandy and will run public service announcements encouraging viewers to donate and volunteer on its television channels, Mother Nature Network reports. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Lowe's(14 of15)
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Home improvement chain Lowe's is donating $1 million and will be accepting donations for the Red Cross in its stores, Mother Nature Network reports. (credit:AP)
Wells Fargo(15 of15)
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Wells Fargo donated $1 million to help victims of Hurricane Sandy and will be accepting donations to the Red Cross through its ATMs until November 13th. Wells Fargo also waived many late fees through yesterday, San Francisco Business Times reports. (credit:AP)

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story referred to the designer as Chris Bryan. It has been corrected to Chip Brian.

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