WARWICK – On Oct. 27, Danielle Cardin, a certified nursing assistant at Greenwich Farm memory care unit who suffered a shattered pelvis and hip when a driver with a suspended license crashed into her car, consigning her to months of recovery, received financial assistance from Benchmark Senior Living’s One Company Fund.
The fund, a grant program Benchmark employees can apply to in times of financial setback, provided Cardin several Visa gift cards she has used to pay bills during her surgery and recovery.
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“I’m still recovering,” said Cardin, who has spent more than three weeks in surgery or recovering from it since the crash. She’s been using a wheelchair or crutches to get around, and will see her doctor on Tuesday to find out if she’s recovered enough to start walking again.
After her crash, an administrator from Benchmark reached out to her and provided her the paperwork to apply for the assistance program.
“It was a great help, especially with Christmas,” Cardin said.
One Company Fund was created during the 10th anniversary year of Benchmark, provider of senior living services in the Northeast. In the last 11 years, the fund has granted more than $1.6 million in assistance to nearly 1,000 associates affected by natural disaster, personal tragedy and other unexpected financial challenges. On Dec. 5, Benchmark announced its fundraising efforts had grossed $380,000 for the fund in 2018, nearly 20 percent more than it raised in 2017.
Benchmark raises funds yearlong through community fundraisers, voluntary payroll deductions, family memorial donations and golf tournaments. Over the summer, for the ninth straight year, the company executed three fundraising golf tournaments. The third, a golf and spa invitational held at The International Golf Club in Bolton, Mass., raised nearly $280,000. More than 200 participants and 70 sponsors supported the event.
“We are very fortunate to have partners, residents, families and associates who share our commitment to One Company Fund,” said Tom Grape, Benchmark’s chairman and CEO. “Our frontline associates work hard every day to keep our residents and families connected to what matters most in their lives. As a human connection company, we are called to care for them when they are unable to deal with life’s challenges, and that’s the reason why the fund was founded.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
