In November 2024, Mark Frisone, executive director of Axess Family Services, felt his hands trembling as he read the email from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. Axess Family Services was about to receive $5 million.
“I thought it was a scam. I didn’t believe it. I dismissed the thing. How could that be real? It actually took them a string of emails to get me to respond,” he said.
Join our community of supporters to access this article
Articles older than 30 days are available to Portager subscribers with a Plus or Premium plan. Subscriptions start at just $1/month.
Already a paid subscriber? Log in here
Plus
Get more from your email newsletter.
$1+ /month
View subscription options- Email newsletter delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Full access to The Portager website
- Participate in the community forum
- Access articles older than 30 days
- Read the publisher's comments in the email newsletter
- List of real estate transactions
- Local comic strip, Headwater Tales
- Donate one free ad per year to a local business or charity
- Print newspaper home delivery via USPS
- Sudokus and crosswords
- 20% off everything in The Portager shop
Premium
Get our print newspaper delivered.
$17 /month
$180 /year
View monthly option View yearly option- Email newsletter delivered Monday, Wednesday and Friday
- Full access to The Portager website
- Participate in the community forum
- Access articles older than 30 days
- Read the publisher's comments in the email newsletter
- List of real estate transactions
- Local comic strip, Headwater Tales
- Donate one free ad per year to a local business or charity
- Print newspaper home delivery via USPS
- Sudokus and crosswords
- 20% off everything in The Portager shop