Care & Comfort supports the Robbie Foundation
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Care & Comfort and the staff of the Dover Foxcroft branch recently presented a monetary gift to the Robbie Foundation from Care & Comfort’s Jean Fund campaign.
Contributed photo
FOUNDATION DONATION — Members of Care & Comfort’s Dover-Foxcroft team presented a check to the Robbie Foundation during the annual summer Staff Appreciation Day held at Kiwanis Park. Front, from left, is Tacie Soden, Sue Giguere, Sue Mackey Andrews, Debbie Webber and Heather Brunner. Back, Sarah Bailey, Sarah Lopez, Toby Wood, Lee Jellison and Rae-Lynn Crawford.
The mission of the Robbie Foundation is to raise funds to provide adaptive equipment, assistive technology, therapy treatment, etc. not covered by insurance to improve the quality of life for children with special needs and to cultivate awareness of the special needs community. The foundation assists children with developmental disabilities including, but not limited to, physical disabilities, speech and language delays, sensory integrated disorders, cerebral palsy, brain injury, autism spectrum disorders and mental retardation. It serves children between birth and age 20 in Maine.
While making the presentation Susan D. Giguere, Care & Comfort’s founder and CEO remarked, “When we were young and planning our future many of us included completing our education, landing the perfect job, finding the love of our life, giving birth to healthy children and living blissfully ever after. Lynn and Robert Gierie’s plans for life were similar. They became teachers, found each other and had a very happy child, Robbie. Their life today also includes numerous challenges that weren’t in the original plan; their son Robbie was born in 1999 with cerebral palsy.”
According to the foundation, Robbie’s disability is quite severe in that he is totally dependent on others for all his daily needs. As the Gieries raised their exceptionally loving, caring and witty son who is non-verbal and non-ambulatory they learned quickly that access to life-enriching items and therapies could be restricted by financial pressures. Specialized adaptive equipment for communication, education, play and mobility is vital, as is access to various types of therapies such as physical, occupational and speech. Gierie has overcome all odds in life and has a very strong “will” in every aspect of his being. In lieu of all he has accomplished for himself, he expresses an interest and eagerness to help others. This family combined their knowledge of needs and passion for assisting others to create the Robbie Foundation
Giguere added, “We know firsthand how difficult it is for families facing similar challenges, as one of the largest home healthcare and mental healthcare providers in Maine, we work with many each day. Whenever we can help a child’s life become more fulfilled by assisting an organization who can provide an item or therapy to enhance their abilities, we do. We appreciate that a parent’s love for, and commitment to, their child is endless. If we can ease their financial worries a bit, we will. I am overjoyed that our employees chose this organization as the recipient after in-depth consideration.”
Sue Mackey Andrews, a foundation board member, accepted the donation, shared information about the history and mission and expressed appreciation to Care & Comfort and its employees. “Safety equipment, some medical necessities, therapeutic recreational programs and adaptive devices frequently are not covered by insurance,” she said. “Your gift will help a child you probably will never know progress as you enabled them to have a particular need met.”
This contribution was made possible through proceeds from the Jeans Day Fund, an ongoing collaborative fundraising effort between Care & Comfort and its employees that began 13 years ago. On Fridays, staff may leave their usual work attire at home and wear jeans for a $2 donation. The company matches every dollar raised, and the employees of each of the five branches select local recipients’ semi-annually.