Donation benefits hospice facility
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — KeyBank officials have been busy cutting checks recently, awarding the proceeds of the sixth annual KeyBank Charity Golf Scramble, held Aug. 18, to nearly a dozen local nonprofits.
CHECK PRESENTATION — Frank Keenan, a member of the Aroostook House of Comfort Board of Directors, 
accepts a $750 check from Steven St. Pierre, KeyBank’s vice president and senior relationship manager, at the Main Street branch in Presque Isle. The money will be used toward the creation of a hospice facility slated for construction on Route 1 between Presque Isle and Caribou.
Such was the case Oct. 25, when Steven St. Pierre, KeyBank’s vice president and senior relationship manager, presented a $750 check to Frank Keenan, member of the Aroostook House of Comfort’s Board of Directors, at the Main Street, Presque Isle, financial institution.
“We raised about $7,500 through the golf tournament, with funds being donated to local nonprofits. Donations ranged from $100 to $2,000,” said St. Pierre.
Thursday’s contribution to the AHC, a hospice house that will be built on the Caribou Road, is one of nearly a dozen donations that will be used by local organizations aiding both people and animals in need.
“In addition to AHC, funds will go to C.A.N.C.E.R., an organization whose mission is to provide support to families and individuals dealing with cancer,” said St. Pierre.
St. Pierre also said checks will be given, in varying amounts, to the following: Junior Achievement of Maine; Project Graduation, Class of 2013, for SAD 1 in Presque Isle and SAD 32 in Ashland; area youth athletic programs, such as area youth hockey and the Field Turf Stadium at SAD 1; Women, Work & Community; three animal shelters from the St. John Valley to the Lincoln lakes region; United Way of Aroostook; the Susan G. Komen Foundation; and the Easton Elementary School cafeteria for new tables.
Keenan said he’s been a supporter of the AMC since Rick Duncan first came up with the idea.
“I’ve been on board since the start and was the messenger who approached Steve and a couple other groups seeking their support,” said Keenan. “They’ve graciously agreed to support the facility, which will provide loved ones an option for end-of-life care.”
Keenan said KeyBank’s donation is greatly appreciated and that every penny counts.
“We’ll need major fundraising to take place over the next year or two, to have sufficient funds to complete such a facility,” said Keenan.
Duncan, founder of AHC, said a site has been selected and work is nearly complete on the legal aspects of obtaining the property.
“Land is being donated for the project, with the paperwork on closing the deal to be completed in November. It’s a 5-acre parcel that’s being donated on Route 1, between Presque Isle and Caribou,” said Duncan.
He said things are going well with regard to lining up the funds to move the project forward.
“Fundraising is going well. We should have a capital campaign starting within three months,” said Duncan. “We’ve raised about $100,000 to date.”
Donations can be made by mail at: Aroostook House of Comfort, P.O. Box 867, Presque Isle, ME 04769.
