Steve Pieri (Nevada-Las Vegas ‘91), a dedicated member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE), traveled to North Carolina to offer his assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, demonstrating the brotherhood’s values of leadership and service. Through his involvement with SAE, Steve has cultivated a strong sense of philanthropy, always ready to give back in times of need. His commitment to helping others during this natural disaster is a reflection of the principles of the True Gentleman that SAE instills in its members, shaping him into the individual he is today.
Steve’s journey to joining SAE wouldn’t have happened without the guidance of his cousin, Bobby Panaro (Nevada-Las Vegas ‘89). On his first day on campus, Steve was drawn to the different fraternity rush booths. Bobby, noticing his curiosity about Greek life, took the time to talk with him, leading to a visit to SAE. There, Steve met Tommy Osborne (Nevada-Las Vegas ‘90), the rush chair at the time, who took the time to get to know him. It wasn’t long before Steve joined SAE, where he found a deep passion for philanthropy and the strong sense of brotherhood that defined the chapter.
After graduating, Steve knew his passion for helping others needed to be channeled into his career. That’s when he co-founded Immaculate Restoration alongside several SAE brothers who continue to work alongside him. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company specializes in cleaning and restoration, whether it’s removing stubborn stains or restoring property after a disaster. Steve and his cousin Bobby are the owners, while Tommy Osborne serves as the CEO. Ricco Longo (Nevada-Las Vegas ’93) is not only his business partner but also his little brother from the fraternity and his brother-in-law.
Building on their commitment to service, Steve and Ricco extended their efforts beyond Nevada when they traveled to Texas in 2017 to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Their mission was entirely focused on helping those in need, a dedication shaped by their SAE experiences and their shared faith.
Steve and Ricco were introduced to a pastor who was overseeing the relief efforts in the area. While some victims had homeowner’s insurance, many others lacked the resources or coverage to recover, and it was those individuals they were most determined to help. As they discussed their mission, the pastor pointed across the parking lot to a large command center trailer, where a group of volunteers in orange shirts were hard at work. “It sounds like you want to do more of what those guys are doing,” he said, referring to the team from Samaritan’s Purse, an international Christian relief and evangelism organization owned by Franklin Graham.
Anyone can volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse, but to oversee a group of volunteers, you must complete at least three missions. Steve understood that he needed to explain his desire to help and why he would be a good fit to jump right in as a Site Leadership Team (SLT). He discussed this with an experienced SLT member, who looked at Steve and said, “You brought all this equipment and tools, but you can’t charge these people.” Steve replied, “I didn’t bring an invoice.” The SLT member then said, “Alright, be here tomorrow at 7 AM. I’ll be working on a street nearby. If I give you a team, can you teach them what to do?” Without hesitation, Steve answered, “Absolutely.” Over the next four days in Houston, Steve saw firsthand the power of selfless service, and the experience renewed his faith in humanity.
“Samaritan’s Purse is there not only to help but to minister to you, offering hope as part of a bigger plan,” Steve said. “There’s nothing more powerful than people coming together for a common cause, especially when it’s driven by the right motivation.”
The same calling that led Steve to help after Hurricane Harvey inspired him to travel to Swannanoa, North Carolina. Watching the devastation unfold weighed heavily on him, reminding him of his experience in Texas back in 2017. After discussing it with his family, he felt the support he needed and was soon on his way. The journey, however, was anything but smooth. A nearly 20-hour trip filled with paperwork issues, flight delays, missed connections, and rescheduled flights tested his patience. But through it all, Steve was reminded that little frustrations don’t matter when there are far bigger challenges at hand.
After a long journey to North Carolina, he arrived at the site on Tuesday, October 8, and immediately jumped into orientation. He quickly approached the woman running the session, explaining his experience in Houston and his readiness to help. She introduced him to Stormy, the SLT, who directed him to the hardest-hit area. Steve’s first home was with a gentleman named Mike Dickson, a deputy sheriff in the area; the house had already been started, but Steve made recommendations on how to expedite the process, which Mike loved.
There, Steve connected with a man named Paul, who had arrived a few days earlier. Paul, a contractor who organized the teams, was trusted by Stormy for his experience and knowledge. After seeing Steve’s work with Mike’s house, Paul was impressed and pointed to a nearby home, saying, “That’s your house.” Steve then took charge of the next task with the same dedication he had shown before.
Paul and Steve were practically inseparable and are still in touch today. Together, they took over Edwards Avenue in Beacon Village, located in Swananova, a neighborhood where houses were built in the 1920s.
Jim and Alli, the owners of the Edwards Avenue house, were among the victims of this disaster. Despite their house being in ruins, they never once complained. Jim shared with Steve the terrifying moments as floodwaters rose rapidly from ankle-deep to over the rooftop in just less than 30 minutes. Jim desperately tried to find a way out and even considered climbing into the attic; fortunately, he didn’t, as the water soon reached that level. He and his wife fought against the current, using CrossFit box jumps as flotation devices to help them stay afloat. Together, they made it to the side of the house and climbed onto the neighbor’s roof, where they waited for help for over an hour. Jim’s account of their survival left Steve choked up.
This trip reunited Steve with Samaritan’s Purse, where he had the opportunity to assign each volunteer to a house in need. Alongside Paul, he worked tirelessly to lead the volunteers through lots of debris and thick mud.
What was meant to be a four-day trip turned into a two-week stay as Steve repeatedly extended his time, changing his flight five times because he couldn’t bring himself to leave. For the entire duration, he drove two hours every day from Anderson, South Carolina, to Asheville, North Carolina. Grateful for his passion and commitment to staying longer, volunteers even opened their homes to him.
The community in Swannanoa was nothing short of incredible. Every day for 15 straight days, a local woman down the street grilled meals for everyone. Whenever Steve or anyone else needed something specific for the work at hand, it seemed to magically appear in a large pile. Whether it was someone picking up lunch from Chick-fil-A, providing generators, or supplying tools and other essentials, there was always someone willing to lend a hand.
They successfully tackled 18 to 20 houses on Edwards Avenue, all with the same mission: to clear out the mud and demolish everything down to the studs. Every inch of the house was stripped away, leaving only the bare bones. They removed all debris, scrubbed away mold, and treated the surfaces to prevent further damage. Windows were covered with tarps to shield against the elements, and after a thorough cleaning, the houses were sealed up just in time to brace for the upcoming weather.
“Seeing family photos amid the mess, knowing these were people’s homes and lives, became even more clear that it’s our duty to give back. The more I can help, the better I feel, and I’ve gained far more than I’ve given,” Steve said.
On Friday, October 18, Steve had to head home to his family. Though he didn’t want to leave, he knew he couldn’t miss his daughter’s first Homecoming and his son’s last. Steve’s time in Swannanoa made a lasting impact on both the community and himself. As he helped rebuild homes and support those in need, he saw the strength and resilience of the people and the power of working together. He credits the fraternity for instilling the values that motivated him to get to North Carolina when he did. While he wishes he could have done more, his experience in Swannanoa is something he will always hold close to his heart.
There are several ways you can help support the Swannanoa community through the links below:
