Remembering a True Friend of Home Care

Mary Cirignano of Braintree was one of the original committee members for the Kickin’ Up Country for Home Care. Mary’s contribution to this committee during its early years cannot be understated, as the dedication and tenacity required to grow any event is significant. We are indebted to Mary and her contemporaries who were the pioneers for all of our events.   

With a great passion for the healthcare community, Mary also devoted significant time to The Alliance for Respiratory Care in Braintree. When she passed away on October 31, 2018, the Alliance made a donation in Mary’s memory to Kickin’ Up Country for Home Care. 

We are confident that Mary would be pleased with The Alliance for Respiratory Care’s generous donation, as it continues the event’s legacy of improving the physical and emotional well-being of our patients and their families.

Kickin’ Up Country for Home Care allows the Friends of South Shore Health to raise funds to help all of the patients and programs in South Shore Health’s Home Care Division, which includes South Shore VNA, Hospice of the South Shore, and Home and Health Resources.  

The Friends are proud to say that over the years this event has raised more than $253,000. We’ve used those funds to purchase items needed by our clinicians, such as replacement laptops and carrying cases, specially-sized blood pressure monitor cuffs, oximeters, weekly pill box organizers, and weigh scales that were required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services for in-home visits.

The funds also allow us to help many of our less fortunate patients whose circumstances make their healthcare needs an especially difficult financial burden. For example, we provided a patient with a specialized mattress for wound care because insurance only covered a fraction of the $7,000 retail cost. Recently, a very young patient with a brain tumor had asked to go to Great Wolf Lodge with his parents, and when family finances would not allow it, The Friends made his wish come true.

Without a doubt, we have provided bright spots for some of our chronically ill patients, and have also given extra measures of comfort to our patients (and their families) in their final days – something upon which a value cannot be placed. Our clinicians are empowered knowing that these funds are available to help those patients who would truly benefit. And, as a bonus, our attendees always have a fun night out!

This year, Kickin’ Up Country for Home Care takes place on Saturday, April 27th at Pembroke Country Club. Tickets are $40 each, or $280 for a table of eight. All tickets include a buffet dinner, dancing to the local Jake Ash Band, fabulous raffles, a 50/50 raffle, and a fun photo-booth.

And while we enjoy a great night out, we’ll be thinking of pioneers like Mary who made this event possible.

Click here to learn more about Kickin’ Up Country and to get your tickets. But don’t wait too long—last year’s event sold out!