October 05, 2022 - Mashpee, Massachusetts – Inspired by a nostalgic summer tradition, Rockland Trust’s Mashpee Branch Manager, Patrice Pimental, led the community in an effort to raise money for Tommy’s Place, a Falmouth-based nonprofit organization providing year-round magical vacation home experiences for kids fighting cancer. Throughout the summer, Rockland Trust’s Cape Cod branches distributed lemonade stand kits to local families who raised a combined $20,000 to support the non-profit organization.
“When we were exploring different fundraising ideas for Tommy’s Place, we wanted to choose something that would be fun and educational for kids,” said Pimental. “We could not have anticipated the number of local families who would step up to support the cause or the level of passion our young entrepreneurs would demonstrate!”
Families across the Cape visited Rockland Trust branch locations from June through August picking up their lemonade stand kits and learning about Tommy’s place from their local branch teams. With the dedicated support of their neighbors and loved ones, young community members were able to raise hundreds, and some over thousands, of dollars through a single lemonade stand. The top fundraiser this summer was five-year-old Jase Russell, who is currently fighting Neuroblastoma and was a guest of Tommy’s Place this past July. Jase raised over $4,000 through his lemonade stand, an incredible feat. 
“I am grateful for Patrice and Rockland Trust for helping us bring awareness to Tommy’s Place and blown away by the level of support we have received from these families and the communities that have rallied behind them” said Tim O’Connell, Founder and President of Tommy’s Place Foundation. “We are working on renovating our second location in Centerville due to the influx of demand from local hospitals. The $20,000 raised will help with our new renovations, allowing more children fighting cancer to experience the magic of Tommy’s Place.”
Tim created Tommy’s Place to provide families undergoing the fight of their lives with a place to relax, create memories, and have fun. To ensure the privacy of guests, one family at a time stays in the home for up to a week - free of charge. The existing house, located in Falmouth, has 11 bedrooms, which is enough space for the immediate family and extended family, as well as any friends and caregivers that are all part of the family support system. Each room in the house is individually designed and decorated. There is also a game room, board game room, home theatre, tavern, music and arts and crafts rooms and more. The outside has a basketball court, beach volleyball court, cornhole, horseshoes, giant chess and checkers, ping pong, outdoor TV, fire pit and a 1951 fire truck. To learn more about Tommy’s place, visit Tommy's Place - Home (tommysplace.org).
