Medvecky a ‘Hometown Hero’

Christmas ad to star WCM man, family and area children

WEST CAPE MAY — “I’m not a trophy person; I just feel humbled,” West Cape May’s Tom Medvecky said of being named “Hometown Hero” after a nationwide search. “It’s amazing that people would think of me.” 

Medvecky was selected to have his home decorated for Christmas using all Home Depot decorations and products, following a search sponsored by Home Depot. The catch? The entire before, during and result were filmed for a commercial that will air later in the year, featuring students from Medvecky’s school assisting in the decorating duties — and the moment when he arrived home to discover it.

“I’m still taking it all in,” Medvecky said Oct. 20, the day after the event. 

Most exciting for the fourth- and fifth-graders at West Cape May Elementary School was the fact that it was all kept top-secret from their assistant principal until Oct. 19, when he arrived to find dozens of neighbors, children and friends out in front of his house, cheering. Students from the school were assisted by some helper-elves from a production company to turn the Medvecky house into a dazzling Christmas wonderland.

“I’m humbled and super amazed that people would think that of me,” Medvecky said. “I want the best for our kids and community. So every day I go in and do whatever is needed, whatever I can do — make someone laugh, help them when they’re struggling, just … whatever I can. I’m honored and humbled.”

Medvecky was nominated for the honor by parents of his students. The award, celebrating someone who makes a difference in their community, is a way of saying thanks. It also makes for compelling viewing, and allows a gigantic corporation such as Home Depot to film real people for a heart-warming Christmas ad. 

Neighbor and friend Lauren Waters might have had a hand in the final decision to spotlight Medvecky’s role in the close-knit, big-hearted, small town of West Cape May. Waters is a freelance casting director who left New York to raise her children in the borough, and noticed how Tom and his wife Kelsey were incredibly involved in the community. While Kelsey grew up here, Tom moved down after meeting Kelsey at The College of New Jersey.

They both served on the Cape May Beach Patrol as lifeguards for years. They even started a charitable foundation called Cal’s Pals to help families with children in the neonatal or pediatric intensive care units, after their son was born premature and spent a whopping 111 days in intensive care; a foundation they continue to run outside of their full-time jobs and life with three children. 

Waters, the casting director whose daughter Riley Gimenez is a student at the school, had worked on the Home Depot Christmas ad in 2025, which focused on a multi-generational household; she knew this year they’d be looking for a Hometown Hero. 

“We were at a birthday party at the beach, and the water was so rough. He (Tom) was watching all the kids, like a second dad, really — keeping them safe. And then suddenly he went out and rescued a kid who’d drifted too far out on a surfboard. Then he just came back,” Waters said.

She suspected she’d found the Hero her clients were looking for. After several other parents chimed in to nominate Medvecky, the wheels started to turn.

“Tom is a great employee,” district Superintendent Zach Palombo said. “He’s 100% a leader. They (the production company for the commercial) asked permission, and I said great. It had to be a secret, so I asked our board president, and he green-lit everything. We started filming on Sunday, actually, at the school. Tom was there but he didn’t realize he was the one they were there for! He didn’t know he was being filmed. He thought he was just there to help out.” 

Medvecky had no idea at all. “Not ’til last night, at the big reveal,” he said of the sparkling surprise. “I’d been out all afternoon with one of their social media people — in what I guess, well, I know now was a ruse. They kept me away so they could set the house up. So we get back and all the kids are screaming. I really thought I was helping out for a commercial, like, some last-minute problem for a friend. But then I found out it was actually for me.”

Palombo stood on the sidelines enjoying the spectacle. 

“I think it’s great for our community, and for Tom, and for our small school. All the staff was there, the students. They see we have a great community, and to find a ‘Hometown Hero’ through our school … it’s a very Norman Rockwell, Americana kind of thing. And our students were very willing to jump right in!”

Riley was one of the children helping out during filming, no doubt having learned much about the biz from her mother Lauren Waters. “This was such a cool experience,” Riley said. “I just love Mr. Medvecky, and everyone was so nice.”

The children, mostly fourth- and fifth-graders, were dressed up in clothes better suited to winter weather, but they made it work for the cameras.

Medvecky has one message for everyone involved in this honor and the big surprise with which it arrived: “I just want to say thank you for thinking of me, for letting me work with your kids and for making me feel like part of this community. It’s nice to feel like people understand and see what you’re trying to do.”

The “Hometown Hero” ad, coming this holiday season, celebrates someone whose selfless generosity to others might have gone unnoticed … by putting thousands of lights and decorations and everyone in town right on their lawn, and plucking the heartstrings with wholesome holiday magic.

The real work continues, both at school and through the Medveckys’ foundation. 

“When I moved into school administration, it’s a 12-month thing,” Medvecky said. “So no more Beach Patrol, though I’m still friends with everyone and will still be around if I’m needed. Our foundation Cal’s Pals takes up another portion of our time, with fundraising and helping anyone we can find who needs help. You know. Whatever we can do.”

– By VICTORIA RECTOR/For the Cape May Star and Wave