Family Fund Launch Brings Hope to Local Children and Families

Brooke Billing, 11, lives with Cerebral Palsy. In November, her world changed when she switched from a manual wheelchair to a power chair. While government funding covered part of the $37,000 price tag, many of the features that would truly improve her day-to-day life weren’t included.

Brooke’s mom, Melissa Scerri, worked closely with Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre (CTC) social worker Jocelyn Plane to navigate a maze of applications and secure the rest of the funding. But the next challenge was just as daunting: building a ramp so Brooke could access their home.

“The average person wouldn’t see all the work involved in acquiring something as seemingly simple as a ramp,” said Jocelyn. “But when a child has multiple needs at once, often families need to prioritize their spending and seek funding support from various sources. It can be really overwhelming, with lots of waiting.”

“As Brooke gets older, it’s getting harder to carry her into the house,” said Melissa. “It will be so helpful once we have a ramp. She wants to help me cook and wash dishes, and I hate to tell her no. Once she can drive the chair into the house, she can use the controls to raise herself to counter-height, and she’ll be able to help out and be a part of things.”

While helping Melissa search for funding for the ramp, Jocelyn encountered dead ends. But that’s when something serendipitous happened: Melissa’s grandparents happen to live next door to a member of the John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation Board. He had been asking about Brooke and wanted to help—but while the Foundation couldn’t support a single-family request, the idea sparked a much bigger conversation.

Thanks to that spark, and the tireless work of the Quinte CTC team and Quinte Health’s Finance team, a new resource was born.

On April 24, the CTC hosted a joyful celebration to officially launch the CTC Family Fund, made possible by a generous $200,000 donation from the John M. and Bernice Parrott Foundation. The fund, which began accepting applications on April 1, is designed to support families when no other funding sources are available.

“This fund exists today because of a courageous and determined family—Brooke and Melissa—and a personal connection that turned into something bigger than any of us imagined,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Quinte Health. “Every single child and youth we serve deserves every opportunity to meet their fullest potential. This fund will enable a more supportive and enriching environment for their growth and development.”

The Family Fund will allow CTC staff to respond quickly and flexibly when families need help—whether for essential equipment, accessibility modifications, or other supports not covered elsewhere. It’s a powerful example of what happens when community and compassion come together.

“The Parrott Foundation has made several contributions to Quinte Health for the benefit of local health services over the years, including in support of the Intensive Care Unit expansion, the replacement of Nuclear Medicine cameras, and the new hospital build in Picton,” added Stacey. “I’m deeply grateful for the tremendous impact the Parrott Foundation has made on our hospitals and our community. The Family Fund is yet another example of their enduring legacy.”

Quinte Health’s Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive Lina Rinaldi echoed that gratitude. “The team at the Quinte Children’s Treatment Centre does remarkable work every single day—supporting thousands of children and youth across our region with care, respect, and partnership. This new fund is one more tool to help meet families where they are and offer real, tangible support when other options just aren’t there.”

As for Jocelyn Plane, the social worker who helped plant the original seed for the fund: she couldn’t be prouder to see how one family’s struggle helped create lasting change for many others.

“Thanks to the Parrott Foundation, the CTC team now has a powerful tool to help children thrive—and to say ‘yes’ when families need it most.”

#Connection

#StrongerTogether