Knights of Columbus
donate to TAMC’s Neuro Rehab
PRESQUE ISLE — The Maine State Council Knights of Columbus, a worldwide fraternal service benefit organization, has donated $750 to support TAMC patients recovering from brain injuries and other neurological conditions.
THE MAINE STATE COUNCIL, a worldwide fraternal service benefit organization, recently donated $750 to support TAMC patients recovering from brain injuries and other neurological conditions. 
Pictured are, from left: Renee Guerrette, program lead/case manager for TAMC’s Neuro Rehab; Mark Bourgoin, state warden for the Maine State Council Knights of Columbus; and Dawn Poitras, manager of rehab and therapy services. Guerrette said the donation will help support patients when they need to purchase adaptive equipment that insurances do not cover.
The Knights of Columbus in Maine organize an annual fundraiser called the Program for People with Disabilities (informally called the Tootsie Roll Program). Funds collected assist people with intellectual and physical disabilities.
Knights of Columbus state officers and the board of directors annually review organizational requests for financial assistance. Those organizations requesting support must meet two criteria in order to qualify: be a not-for-profit, and in some capacity work with the intellectual and physically disabled.
“Once the decisions are made, the checks are then written out to the respective organizations and given to a Brother Knight who can present them in person,” said Mark Bourgoin, state warden for the Maine State Council Knights of Columbus. “It is a great honor to be that Brother Knight that can present the check to an organization such as TAMC’s Neuro Rehab. The Knights like to help the people of Maine — from Fort Kent to Kittery — and this one was close to home right here in Aroostook County. Our first principle of the Order is ‘charity.’”
For the 2011-12 fraternal year, almost $80,000 was raised with nearly $14,000 being distributed via the Maine State Council.
“Funding received such as this is a welcomed surprise,” said Renee C. Guerrette, program lead/case manager for TAMC’s Neuro Rehab. “Our vision for the use of this donation is to support our patients when they need to purchase adaptive equipment that insurances do not cover. Equipment pieces such as foot ups for toe dragging, built up utensils for eating, and splints are equipment tools therapists often recommend which can facilitate a great deal of independence. Our hope is that we can further foster that independence in our patients by assisting with these purchases in some manner.”
The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s fraternal benefit society that was formed to render financial aid to members and their families.
The focus at TAMC Neuro Rehab is to help patients achieve and maintain the highest level of physical, cognitive and emotional wellbeing while emphasizing an individual’s independence.
