Community has many reasons to support Gold Brick Program

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Why have people given to the Gold Brick Program over the years? Some have donated to memorialize a loved one. Others have given to pay tribute to a co-worker, friend, or family member who has made a lasting, lifelong impact. Many local businesses have contributed to the program because they recognize the importance of ensuring access to a high level of health care close to home.     Patty LeBlanc and her family had very personal reasons for giving.
“A few years ago, we decided to support the Gold Brick Program when we had twin grandsons pass away at the hospital,” said LeBlanc. “We decided we wanted a memorial that would be ongoing and would also help others in the community. So we chose the Gold Brick Program.”
The Gold Brick Program began in 1958 when the 122 members of the Presque Isle Rotary Club decided to raise $1 million to create an endowment fund for what is now A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital. The club made a commitment to secure pledges for 1,000 bricks at a cost of $1,000 each. The Presque Isle Rotary Club hopes to fulfill this extraordinary commitment by the end of this week’s Rotary Auction.
The interest from the endowment fund is used to purchase needed medical equipment for The Aroostook Medical Center, including equipment that benefits kids.
“The gift that we gave to the Gold Brick Program in memory of the grandchildren has helped others,” said LeBlanc. “The hospital has been able to buy fetal monitors in the maternity unit and other equipment. Some of the funds from the Gold Brick Program have helped the nursery and supplied the equipment that The Aroostook Medical Center needs when they have multiple births.”
Since a $1,000 pledge today is worth much less than a pledge of a similar amount made in 1958, the Presque Isle Rotary Club created the platinum level of giving in 2005 for those wanting to make a larger contribution. A platinum brick represents a pledge of $10,000 payable over a time period up to 10 years.
Contributions at either the gold or platinum level are recognized with a nameplate placed on the Gold Brick Wall at A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital.
“We could have whatever we wanted on the inscription, and we chose to have our grandsons’ names, Jesse and Jeremy, and have the gift made in memory of them from their grandparents,” said LeBlanc. “The really good thing about the Gold Brick Program is that after we did it and had other grandchildren, family members wanted to help contribute, and doing it over a 10-year period is really an easy thing to do. I encourage anyone that wants to keep their dollars local and help any part of our health care system through the hospital to pledge to the Gold Brick Program.”
Gold Brick pledges will be taken Wednesday and Thursday night during the Presque Isle Rotary Club’s annual auction. The auction will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable Channel 9 and Channel X Radio (97.7 FM and 102.3 FM).