Auction to benefit the Doolittle Home 2007
by Robert Gillis

Published in the Foxboro Reporter March, 2007

As many of you know, I have a great love for senior citizens. Tens years ago, many of my columns in this space talked about the need for a permanent senior center in our town. And this year, I have been honored to accept a position as the newest member of the board of trustees for the Doolittle Home.

Doolittle Home is truly one of Foxboro’s treasures. This beautiful residence is home to nearly 30 senior citizens, and provides total care in an elegant, dignified atmosphere. A life care facility, Doolittle Home is licensed by the State as a retirement facility and also provides for the medical needs of the residents in a fully accredited nursing unit.

If you visit Doolittle, you will quickly see that it is not at all like any extended care facility you have ever visited. Those investigating options for themselves or an elderly relative will quickly learn that there are many different types of facilities meant to address different needs. While there are many different models to choose from, Doolittle Home’s life care approach is unique. Other entry plans are also available.

Like retirees everywhere, residents of Doolittle Home retain their own independent lifestyle. There is also an Activities Director who plans special trips as well as in-house activities which they find enjoyable. Through the Residents Council, they have a voice in planning activities, making their needs known, and helping to plan menus.

The licensed nursing staff is accessible to all residents on a 24/7 basis. To assure each resident’s total care, Doolittle Home has also contracted with several other health care professionals to assist with any of the residents’ health needs, whether it be in their rooms or on the nursing unit.

Doolittle is unique in many ways. For example, residents do not surrender their assets to Doolittle Home. For each resident, they prepare a customized estimate of the cost of care for the remainder of their estimated life span, and that cost is offset by their monthly Social Security and any pension income to determine the cost of admission. In fact, many residents have sold their modest homes, paid their admission, and still have investments of their own.

The admissions fee is comprehensive and provides for services throughout the life of the resident – there are no monthly or additional fees. The upfront fee covers the resident’s room, 3 meals a day plus snacks, medication management, nursing staff, activities, laundry, housekeeping, etc. If it becomes necessary to move the resident to the medical unit, that cost is covered as well.

The contract with residents at Doolittle Home is for life. They are cared for with love, dignity and whatever support is necessary until the take their last breath. Even if a resident outlives their actuarial life expectancy, all services continue at no additional cost to the resident or the family.

If someone predeceases their life care balance or leaves the home before their life care funds are exhausted, there is a rebate formula.

I have visited Doolittle many times. I am overwhelmed by the atmosphere of feeling at home. So you can see why I have come to love Doolittle Home – for someone who loves seniors so much, to see that this fine facility provides seniors with dignity, respect and quality of life – well, how can you not want to help?

Now here's the pitch. Doolittle Home is a non-profit organization organized under section 501 (c) 3 of the IRS code. As such, it must demonstrate outside support (read: auctions, donations, other support) and provide care at lower cost than could be obtained on the open market. Residents must also be afforded some sense of financial security and, in the case of Life Care residents, funds have to be available to continue those services even beyond the exhaustion of an individual's up front payment.

As part of the fundraising, for the fourth year, Doolittle Home will be holding an auction LIVE on Foxboro Cable Access (Channel 8) on Saturday March 24, starting at 1:00pm. I am urging you to watch, to call in and bid, and make a difference.

The auction is a Herculean effort coordinated by Lynda Walsh, Jack Authelet and the Doolittle Board of Trustees, and dozens of behind-the scenes helpers and donors across town. This is an effort that literally takes thousands of man-hours to put together.

"The auction will move much faster this year," said Lynda, giving credit to the many guest auctioneers who volunteer their time, "and the bidding will be much more spirited." To speed up the bidding, there will be an opportunity in advance of the auction to register for a Speed Bid number so frequent bidders will not have to keep repeating their names each time they bid.

The donated items up for bid this year are phenomenal. As you may have heard, the annual fund-raiser will feature a painting by the late Homer White, the legendary local artist honored during a February exhibit at Boyden Library as the Foxboro Art Association celebrates its 50th anniversary. The painting, valued at $500, is a covered bridge scene set against the rich colors of fall that can only be found in New England.

Here are just some of the other items that will be auctioned:

Tickets to Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band at Gillette stadium, tickets to hear Kenny Cheney’s sold-out performance July 28 at Gillette stadium, scale model of tri-level hay barn valued at over $1000, a week in a cottage by the sea, a kid’s party at the SportsPlex, a GE dishwasher, microwave, camcorder, a John Mecray limited edition print, tours of the state house, behind the scenes tour of channel 5, tickets to Oklahoma, weekend stay for two at the Courtyard Marriott, camping at Normandy Farms, pictures, paintings & images, ride a Foxborough fire truck in the Founders Day parade, Foxborough clock, Celtics tickets, Tom Brady tribute, quilts, gorgeous paintings and images, wrought iron furniture designed by the late Cliff Curry, beautiful china and flatware, health club memberships, tanning, teeth whitening, gift certificates and far more.

And that’s just for starters.

As always, the Doolittle Home web site, www.Doolittle-Home.org features a PREVIEW of over one hundred high quality items up for bid. Visit the website daily for a constantly updated preview and start making a list of the items you wish to bid upon come auction day!

And while you’re there, check out the rest of the Doolittle site for tons of information about residents, staff, the Doolittle mission, trustees, activities, even sample menus and calendar.

The items are also being previewed on Foxboro Cable Access.

Since Doolittle Home is a 501 (c) 3 public charity all donations are tax deductible. For additional information about Doolittle Home or its auction or to make a donation, please call the Doolittle Home at 508-543-2694 or auction chairman Lynda Walsh at 508-543-2668 or Jack Authelet, Doolittle president, at 508-543-8110.

And PLEASE: Watch the live auction and bid. Mark your calendar now. So many of us – myself included – spend Saturdays in a grand rush of post office, dry cleaning, house cleaning, shuffling the kids places, and catching up on the myriad of things we didn’t get to during the week.

I am asking you –for this one day -- to set aside time at 1pm on Saturday March 24 to tune into the Doolittle Auction on Channel 8. (The auction itself could never happen without the tireless effort of so many Foxboro Jaycees, Foxboro Cable Access, Channel 8, and Friends of Doolittle volunteers – thank you all!)

So many people have worked very hard for months to put together this grand event to support one of Foxboro’s treasures. You can help by tuning in, calling in, and bidding. Bid high. Bid often. Keep those phones ringing! You have an opportunity to help our seniors once again. Remember, we’ll all be a senior someday! Help make a difference. Support Doolittle Home! www.Doolittle-Home.org

[Jack Authelet contributed text and information to this column.]