Raise the Bar attempts to diminish suffering by reducing stress caused by lack of financial resources due to loss of income related to a serious illness. All financial grants are required to be referred by medical or social service professionals within the Southwestern Connecticut area. All grants are thoroughly screened by local agencies and the Board. Grant payments are paid directly to the service provider. Typical grant requests include rent, mortgage payment, insurance and utility bills, as well as, medical equipment.

To date, we are proud to have distributed grants in excess of $750,000.00 to help more than 450 individuals in need of assistance.

Raise the Bar Foundation is a publicly supported organization exempt from federal income tax as described in the Internal Revenue Code at Section 501 © (3). All (100%) of the net proceeds raised are used to provide grants to individuals or families in need. NO administrative or non-grant related expenses are incurred. It is the intent of the trustees to disburse funds as they are raised and not to accumulate monies in an investment account.

TRUSTEES:
• MICHAEL R PERRY, JR. 1952-1999 FOREVER OUR INSPIRATION
• William Mancusi
• Bob Musumeci, President
• Bill Arnone
• Terry Baxendale
• Tim Craig
• Kevin Cooke
• John Dunster
• Marcia Groglio
• Suzanne Perry van Rijssen
• Rick Robustelli

Scenarios where Raise the Bar lent a helping hand:

• The sister, primary caregiver, of a man with paraplegia, slept on a couch as they had insufficient funds to buy a bed. RTB purchased a bed and linens for her.

• A patient with cancer of the pharynx received assistance with buying a new tracheotomy tube and payment of his overdue heating bill.

• A grant was made to a cancer patient for the extraction of several teeth which was necessary prior to receiving radiation and chemotherapy.

• Rent was paid for the father of a child seriously injured in an auto accident in which the mother died.

• A twenty-three year old woman with two children, ages two and five, was diagnosed with a brain tumor and fought her disease for two years. During this time,the woman’s mother worked full time to care for her daughter and grandchildren. Raise the Bar assisted by paying for a nursing aide to keep the woman at home with her family.

• An elderly couple spent their savings caring for their daughter who had been very ill. Now, they too got sick and had to take a second mortgage to pay for their own medical bills.
RTB assisted by making a payment toward their mortgage.

• A young man who suffered a debilitating accident received help from RTB to make his home more handicapped accessible.

• RTB installed a stair glide in the home of a woman who lost her leg in a car accident so that she could easily go in and out of her home, and carry on with her life.