Honorees
Otto & Patricia Borden
Kendarius Heard
Doug Edwards
Doug is a U.S. Navy veteran and retired NYPD officer who bravely participated in the 9/11 search and recovery efforts in 2001. We were proud to honor Doug with this donation as a token of gratitude for his service.
Rene Bonville
Safe Step is now the largest, most well-respected and third-party accoladed walk-in tub company in North America. With a significant milestone in sight last year (100,000 tubs being manufactured), Safe Step targeted Bonville based on his invaluable impact on the company. Duffer, Oliver and his family along with 100 team members gathered late last year in order to honor the man who very well may have triggered the company’s prosperity. Safe Step created a program of giving in 2013, aptly named Safe Step Cares, which has been responsible for dozens of donations to those in need without the cost of the state-of-the-art tub. Bonville was the latest Safe Step Cares recipient. Rene never had the luxury to routinely experience the masterpiece he helped create, yet he basked in the reverence and respect he so rightfully deserved during his day attended by virtually all loved ones, team members, media and local dignitaries. “Safe Step is forever grateful for Rene,” said Duffer. “I could always count on honest, candid feedback from him. He was as dear and kind as he was smart and his counsel ultimately led to Safe Step offering the best walk-in tubs on the planet.” Rene’s story and the partnership’s success were gracefully covered by the small community’s news sources such as the Lewis County Herald and the Columbia Times. The Herald’s managing editor Ms. Becky Newbold attended the event and turned it into a front-page story of remembrance.
CJ DeGennaro
A single father, Steve has devoted his life to caring for his son but was unable to afford the one thing he needs: a walk-in tub. CJ’s grandmother used to take CJ to water therapy at a local facility but passed away and Steve works full-time so CJ is in the predicament of having to obtain a ride to water therapy. CJ received a surprise donation from Safe Step Walk-In Tub and was surrounded by friends and family. The tub will eliminate the need to pay for a ride to water physical therapy. It is a therapeutic tub with water jets that will help CJ feel better, sleep better, be better. He was unanimously chosen by the company’s employees to receive the tub. Said one nominator: “CJ is the pride of Ellwood City. He knows the family who received the last donation and has privately shared his wish of having his own, which his father cannot afford. It will help him so much and he deserves a break.”
Bev Turner
Nominated by her boss, Karmen Vance, she was surprised in the lobby of Safe Step headquarters by her colleagues. Also in on the secret: her father Maurice, who purchased a Safe Step tub prior to the donation. It was the ultimate corporate feel-good moment of the year. Bev was involved in a motorcycle accident and was working through constant pain at three jobs before Safe Step gave her an opportunity. She is revered by her peers and is reportedly feeling much better after nearly a year with the tub at her beck and call.
John Deaver
Based on John’s production of the young girl’s video, he was hired full-time for the program. John has traveled from coast-to-coast on a shoestring budget in order to capture these special moments. What John didn’t call attention to was the fact that he was suffering himself. John has Ankylosis Spondylitis, an incurable degenerative disease. In layperson’s terms, it’s like a clamp around your back and eventually, your spine will fuse completely. He visits the Alabaster YMCA when he can to sit in the hot tub to relieve his pain. He takes 8 different medications daily in order to function through the chronic pain. Upon staying with the program’s director, 150PR head Derek Farley, John finally revealed his disease. He stayed with Farley to cut down on expenses; Farley has a Safe Step tub in his home in Charlotte. Although embarrassed, Deaver asked to use the tub; Farley obviously obliged. After an hour in the tub, Deaver exited and said he felt better than he had in years Farley then presented the nomination to the Safe Step executive team, who approved the donation. Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-in Tub is the largest walk-in tub manufacturer in North America. The company created its nationally-renowned philanthropy named Safe Step Cares in 2013. The charity has donated more than 50 tubs in 5 years and chooses recipients based on nominations. In most cases, it lets its valued team members vote on the recipients. In John’s case, it was “Mike’s choice,” – donated by company founder Mike Duffer. “For our first couple of donations, I contracted local videographers in each town, which lead me to him for our first giveaway in Alabaster,” said Derek Farley, spokesperson for Safe Step Cares. “He understood our objective and is the best storyteller via video I’ve ever worked with. I now know the pain he lives with and I am so excited to surprise him with a tub of his own. That our company’s founder Mike Duffer volunteered to be a part of the surprise tells you exactly what you need to know about how the company feels about John.”
Eric Fuehrer
Safe Step Tubs, based in Nashville, heard about Eric’s story – that he couldn’t maneuver in a standard tub safely -- and decided to award him with a life-changing walk-in tub at no charge. So, in a secret kept by family and friends for months, Eric was lured to a softball tournament after being told his boys were playing. They weren’t. Unable to walk long distances, he was escorted by a utility vehicle to home plate as hundreds looked on. And sitting behind home plate – his place of joy – was a large box gift-wrapped with a bow and include a card. Well, the secret didn’t last much longer, as representatives from the company read a letter from its president. And then they proceeded to unveil his new walk-in tub, which the company will also install at no cost. Safe Steps philanthropy, Safe Step Cares, has awarded 50 tubs in five years by finding those deserving of a tub but who cannot afford one; in Eric’s case, mounting medical bills. In addition to being a husband, Eric was a former New York police officer, community volunteer, and Cub Scout leader. He lives with chronic pain and his doctor recommended a walk-in tub. His sister-in-law had heard about Safe Step Cares through her neighbor and nominated Eric. The company considers 100 nominations a month before narrowing it down to 3-5. It then asks its team members to decide who receives the tub. Eric won the company vote and the gift of a lifetime and with its help, hopes to beat cancer and return to umpiring behind home plate, where his gift once sat.
Shauna Bylund
But her wish was for something that almost everyone takes for granted: the ability to bathe safely. Her parents, Cindy and Mike, are strapped with medical bills related to Shauna’s health conditions, and we're unable to grant their daughter’s reasonable request. So Cindy decided to write a company in Nashville, Tennessee, which indisputably makes the premiere walk-in tub on the market, Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. She submitted a nomination for consideration for a free tub through the company’s nationally-recognized philanthropy Safe Step Cares. Safe Step, which has donated more than 50 tubs in five years and receives dozens of submissions monthly, put it under consideration along with other deserving nominations. Then, it did something even more remarkable: they asked their valued team members to vote on the program’s next recipient. Cindy’s nomination on behalf of her ailing daughter won the popular vote. And earlier this month, Shauna received her dream gift in the form of a state-of-the-art walk-in tub. And it wasn’t a public relations fly-by. Company representatives from Charlotte and Birmingham, along with employees of Canadian Safe Step, the dealer representative which serves the Salt Lake City community, flew or drove in to make the delivery and installation in person. “Safe Step Cares is the giving heart of a very caring and different company,” said Safe Step Cares overseer Derek Farley. “Our team members take this program very seriously and it starts at the top with Mike (president Duffer), Stuart (CFO Hall), and Demie (COO Angelocci). The company sees the program as karma in that the more they give, the more success they achieve, and personally, I think they are right.” Farley declined to disclose the value of the tub and installation, saying, “First, the ability to provide this is priceless. Second, all jobs are custom and this one was free so it’s not about the money. It’s about the fact that Safe Step Cares.” Shauna took the first “safe bath” of her life and gave the tub an A+. “It relieved my chronic pain and eased my nerve damage. I can’t believe they chose me but I couldn’t be happier and am amazed that people who haven’t even met me gave me my dream gift of a lifetime.” Farley downplayed it but with a wink-wink: “Mike (Duffer) is the real deal. This is his program and I am just the messenger. But good luck getting the smile off of my face today.” The same could be said for the entire Bylund family, thanks to Safe Step Cares.
Jimmy Cox
Through the Safe Step Cares website, Cox received more than 30 nominations from his friends and family in the area. It was enough to make Safe Step’s monthly list of candidates. Safe Step receives dozens of nominations monthly, chooses the most deserving, and then invites its team members to vote on the winner. Cox won November’s popular vote. “This is the gift of a lifetime and one that will change Jimmy’s life forever,” said Jimmy’s mom Helen Nonnemacher. “Safe Step not only donated the tub, but they also sent a team of professionals to install it and a video team to capture all of the excitement. They were so kind and Jimmy warmed up to them immediately.” Cox was diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome as an infant. It is a chromosomal condition that affects male physical and cognitive development. Cox has also battled cancer and a number of other ailments and recently broke his leg. Of the many nominations, one said, “Jimmy has never let his condition define him. He is upbeat and warm-hearted and possesses an innocence that we all would like to have. He has just not had any luck health-wise but continues to smile and touch people. Jimmy just needs a shot in the arm or kindness. And now he has one. Says Safe Step Cares coordinator Derek Farley: “Jimmy is what the Safe Step Cares program is all about. This company changes lives every day with its product and our president Mike Duffer vowed to give back to those less fortunate from day one. We were impressed with the nominations. Our team of safety specialists felt he deserved an early Christmas present and we know our product will bring comfort and joy to Jimmy.” Cox volunteers at a local food kitchen and is nicknamed The Meat Sheriff due to the seriousness in which he takes his duties of delegating the ham distribution for sandwiches. He was all smiles upon receiving the tub and expressed immense gratitude. “Thank you so much,” said Cox. “I am not sharing this with my mom and dad.” With his mom in a warm embrace and surrounded by loved ones, he reconsidered and said, “Well, maybe with my mom.”
Kaitlyn Weaver & Anna Grace McDonald 2017 Revisit
We call them Alabaster’s Angels, two young ladies from a small town in Alabama, both hindered but not defeated by Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Each received a tub through Safe Step Cares and we dropped in on them in 2017 to check on their progress. As you’ll see, both are having better lives and both credit the tub for making a positive difference in their homes.
Adam Roen Revisit 2017
It’s been a long road back. When we first met him, he was getting around very slowly and painfully. Flash forward two years after our donation and he’s running a basketball camp for young kids. He is moving much more fluidly and credits his Safe Step tub for getting him through the tough days and assisting him in his rehabilitation overall. As fun as the delivery was, the checkin visit was even better. To watch him keep up with his kids and others at the camp was priceless. On the revisits, we try to make a gesture relevant to the recipient. In this case, we bought the campers t-shirts, which they had never had, treated them to lunch (another first), and made a $1000 to the camp to offset the bills of this all-volunteer camp. The video tells the rest of the story!
Shirley Perring
The company’s founder Mike Duffer made a promise to his mother, who kept his company alive during early tough times, in that if the company had success, he would give back to the communities in which he does business. He created a national program of giving called Safe Step Cares, which has given away nearly 50 tubs in four years. When Duffer read the letter from Shirley, he decided to do one better. He would donate 2 state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tubs due to the number of residents and he would also donate toilet paper for life the facility. And it wasn’t a PR fly-by, as Duffer and his PR agency’s president Derek Farley have made numerous visits to Crestview to meet with the Manor’s facility director Becky Brice Nash and the Manor’s biggest fan, Ms. Perring. Safe Step’s employees recently voted the Crestview Manor give away the most popular donation in the program’s four-year history. Perring’s daughter Ronda decided to see if she could arrange another miracle: a walk-in shower for her mother, who has spent her entire life giving while never asking for something herself. Duffer immediately approved the request and Farley coordinated a scheme that would keep Shirley out of the house for 6 hours while the tub was being installed. “Shirley is the very heartbeat of Safe Step Cares. She is the poster person for the philanthropy and when we heard that she could use an assist herself, giving her a shower was one of the quickest decisions in company history.” Farley met Perring for lunch after a few bogus meetings were created by her company Jackson Hewitt, who was also in the know. Farley and Perring said their goodbyes in the parking lot of Cracker Barrel and then Farley raced to the Perring residence, where Ronda, daughter Sinder and husband Don were patiently waiting. When Perring entered her home, she yelled, “what is Derek’s rental car doing next door and I can still smell his cologne.” Busted, Farley tried to backpedal and say he just wanted to meet her husband and daughters. But it was too late as Farley’s agency video guru John Deaver had the cameras rolling. An installer was spotted and then Farley led her to the bathroom, where Perring broke down in tears upon seeing her new walk-in shower. “This is beyond amazing. Mike Duffer, Stuart (Hall, Safe Step CFO), and Derek are angels on earth. They restore my faith in companies, they restore my faith in humanity.” Farley also visited Crestview Manor, treating the residents to pizza for lunch, which he delivered himself. “I’m just a proud messenger with the greatest PR gig in the world. Mike and Stuart give me the opportunity to play Superman but they are the real superheroes.”
Crestview Manor Revisited
In 2013, Safe Step donated 2 walk-in tubs to an assisted-living facility in Crestview Manor. In doing so we adopted all of its residents and have stayed in touch ever since. The donation became the most popular donation in Safe Step Cares history. We dropped in on them in 2017, buying them lunch, bringing them bathrobes and installing a new walk-in shower. Safe Step LOVES Crestview Manor!
Jason Smith
During his stay, Jason’s situation darkened and he was rushed to the ICU, where his heart stopped twice. Jason would be in the hospital for six months and during his stay, he endured a feeding tube for five months, six surgeries, dialysis, numerous CT scans, blood disease, liver damage, diabetes, and a ventilator with two drain tubes in his body. Fast forward a year from the original diagnosis and Jason is now on his second round of therapy in his home. During the ordeal, Jason lost more than 100 pounds. Jason’s wife Brittany lost her job six months ago after caring for Jason during his illness. They have a five-year-old daughter and given the stack of medical bills, face financial hardships they could not have fathomed 15 months earlier. Aware of his company’s award-winning national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, Dupler passed the letter along to company president Mike Duffer, who started the program based on a promise he made to his mother upon starting the business, in that if his company saw success (which it has), he would give back to those less fortunate (which he has). Duffer decided to help the Smiths with a state-of-the-art walk-in tub, FREE OF CHARGE. Dupler, who installs Safe Step tubs as his profession, was so moved by the story that he decided to organize a golf tournament in order to help with the family’s expenses … before he learned of his president’s intentions. The video tells the rest of the story.
David Scarbrough
When we first met David Scarbrough, we had identified a GoFundMe page for a boy who needed a tub but whose single mom could not afford one. It was the launch of Safe Step Cares. He was 13 at the time, stayed curled up in a ball most of the day, was in a wheelchair, could barely walk, and was in constant pain. He used his donated tub seven times a day on average and saw immediate and progressive relief. Within a couple of years, he won a Special Olympics medal where on the stand he thanked his mom and Soaky, the nickname for his tub. He walks daily now with his therapy dog Nellie but here is the good stuff: HE GRADUATED ON MAY 25, 2018! His mother feels that this would not have been possible without the tub via Safe Step Cares.
Tyler Currie
Doctors told Tyler Currie’s mom Beth Coward not to bring her son into the world. He would be severely autistic, unable to speak, unable to care for himself, and handicapped. She didn’t listen, and the world received an angel in Tyler. He stays with caretakers and the toughest task in daily life is something most of us take for granted: taking a bath. Safe Step Cares changed all of that and honored Beth’s special son with a walk-in tub.
Noah Jones
One of those who nominated Mariah was Jaime Jones, who diagnosed Mariah based on her experience with her own son, 12-year-old Noah, who also has Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA). She felt that the company would probably only provide one tub and felt Mariah was deserving. She attended the tub presentation for Mariah, where she and Noah met Safe Step personnel. Fighting back tears, she told them how a tub would also help Noah. Fifty of her friends agreed and the area AGAIN took their case online and nominated Noah more than 50 times, telling actual stories about how Noah and his family have raised nearly $30,000 to bring awareness to JRA. It was a great story though, according to Safe Step Cares coordinator Derek Farley, the decision had already been made. “Imagine the selflessness involved when a mother nominates someone else’s child facing the same daily challenges of JRA as her own,” said Farley. “When we met Jaime at Mariah’s donation, she was reluctant to even comment on Noah, saying ‘this is about Mariah, not us.’ That’s when we knew that Noah was going to receive his tub too.” Farley and other key Safe Step Cares representatives flew to Pittsburgh to deliver the early Christmas present to the Ellwood City youngster and his family. The tub was wrapped in green with a big red bow on top. The green wrapping is comprised of printouts of all of the nominations Noah received. All of his nominators were invited to the delivery, including Mariah and her mother Tory, who reciprocated her daughter’s good fortune by nominating Noah herself. “We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the holidays than to present our life-changing gift to a very deserving young man who is battling this disease every day,” said Duffer. “It was one of the easiest decisions I’ve ever made. We look forward to sending Christmas early to Noah and his family.”
Mariah Aquino
Mariah Aquino has followers worldwide and is well-known in the Pittsburgh area for being the teen behind Mariah’s Movers, an organization the 10-year from Beaver Falls/Patterson Heights founded in order to bring awareness to juvenile arthritis (JA), an incurable disease she was diagnosed with at age 5. The affliction makes her joints swell and at times, makes it unbearable for her to walk. Her doctors recommended a hydrotherapeutic tub in order to provide circulation and healing benefits on days when she is suffering the most. Her mother, a single mom supporting two daughters, one with a chronic disease, is unable to afford the tub, which costs in excess of $10,000. At a Juvenile Arthritis Convention, earlier this year, Mariah and her mom Tory met young Kaitlyn Weaver and her mother Michelle. Over the summer, Kaitlyn was nominated to receive a free, state-of-the-art tub, courtesy of Safe Step Cares, the philanthropic arm of Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. Kaitlyn returned home from church camp to find 100 people in her yard surrounding her own tub. TV crews were in on the surprise, TV clip here. While Mariah considered Kaitlyn’s fortune a stroke of luck and didn’t think about it again, her mother decided to start a movement of her own. Over Labor Day weekend, dozens of friends and family members took their case online to www.safestepcares.com in order to nominate Mariah to receive her own tub. Nearly 50 nominations were received, all saying how involved Mariah was in the community, raising money to bring awareness to JA. The letters all landed on the desk of the Safe Step executive team and the coordinator for the program Derek Farley, who considers all nominations for Safe Step Cares on behalf of the company, which has provided approximately one tub a month for more than three years to those in need who could benefit from a hydrotherapeutic tub. Farley visited the family a few weeks back, the final step in the consideration process, and through the blessing of company president Mike Duffer, who started the national program of giving, was able to inform Mariah’s mom that her daughter would be the first Pennsylvania recipient of Safe Step Cares. “The number of nominations was amazing, but the message was even more meaningful,” said Farley. “She doesn’t let the disease define her. She started her own organization and runs an annual fundraiser to raise money for JA research. Her mom puts her daughters first and the financial toll of the disease is lost on a lot of people. Not us. In fact, that is why Mike created Safe Step Cares. We look forward to surprising Mariah with a life-changing gift on November 3 at her home. Of course, Safe Step will be well represented because we believe in this program.”
Mike Rollins
As we all sat down to determine his needs and the best and safest process to allow him to bathe alone your company's shower and walk-in tub seemed to be the answer to our prayers. I think your walk-in tub would be more beneficial to him than an accessible shower because he would be able to use the jet feature to ease joint, back, knee, and overall pain. If he is chosen to receive one of your tubs, his independence and confidence will increase greatly; thus improving his quality of life. Mike has constantly told everyone that one of his final steps in his recovery would love to be able to bathe alone. He tells me each and every day that all he wants from me is to go back to smiling like I used to. It is hard for me to see him struggle so much with the easiest of tasks. This letter reached the desk of the president of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., one of the world’s leading providers of state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic walk-in tubs. Duffer started a national program of giving called Safe Step Cares, which provides FREE tubs to those in need. In the past three years, Safe Step Cares has donated approximately 1 tub per month to individuals who are active in the community and/or who have served our country but who are unable to afford the tub. Duffer made Mike Rollins the first Georgia recipient of the program. Rollins’ tub was delivered ceremoniously and was provided at no charge to the Rollins family. Duffer and his Safe Step Cares team flew in to present Mike and Peggy with their new tub. “Safe Step is in the business of changing lives every day and we know our tub will be of great benefit to both Mike and Peggy,” said Duffer. “They’ve been through a lot, have both served our country and we are looking forward to our product making a positive impact on them both.”
Kaitlyn Weaver
Her parents know in-home water therapy would help but with the constant care, the family pays up to $65,000 out-of-pocket annually in order to cover Kaitlyn’s medical expenses. Her sources for temporary relief: a warm daily bath with Epsom salt because she is unable to stand for a shower and a foot spa for her aching and swollen feet. Then she received an upgrade in the form of a free, state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tub from Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. And it was a SURPRISE! The Nashville-based company heard about Kaitlyn via a video submission (link below) that featured Kaitlyn along with her parents, Michele and Scott. The video was sent in order for Kaitlyn to be considered for the company’s national program of giving, Safe Step Cares. For the past three years, the company has donated tubs to those in need, free of charge. The video won the hearts of the entire Safe Step family and she received a tub of her own for free. It’s not the company’s first donation in the Birmingham area. A little over two years ago, the company helped Helena teenager Anna Grace McDonald with a free tub to help her combat her juvenile arthritis. She attended a Safe Step seminar, and wanted the tub but her family was unable to afford it. Safe Step stepped in. The donation, reaction, and reflection were all caught on camera as well. The donation to Kaitlyn was pure magic. Kaitlyn was away at church camp while Safe Step was getting the bathroom ready for the installation. She returned home on Thursday, June 23rd at 1 pm. At home, she found approximately 100 people - family, neighbors, and friends – in her front yard, all wearing custom pink T-shirts that said Safe Step Cares about Kaitlyn Weaver. Kaitlyn is also the mascot for the UAB women’s volleyball team and several team members, in uniform, were there. Finally, waiting for her was her personalized Safe Step walk-in tub, gift wrapped with a huge pink bow. As a bonus, Anna Grace, who knows Kaitlyn and is in on the surprise, was there to welcome her and tell her how much difference the tub will make in order to ease her pain. "We were completely moved by the video we received about Kaitlyn and her family’s story,” said Mike Duffer, founder, and president of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. “We see a need here and we loved presenting her with this life-changing gift through Safe Step Cares that will help ease her pain.”
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota Residents
Their one outstanding need: a safe way to take a bath. The women currently have a cold-tiled step-in shower that not only doesn’t fit their needs, but it’s also not safe. The answer: a hydrotherapeutic walk-in tub. Yet, with a limited budget, the solution seemed out of reach until the Facebook post reached the desk of company president Craig Dauffenbach and his wife, Safe Step COO Stephanie Dauffenbach. This would not be the couple’s first time changing lives. They have been providing tubs free of charge to those in need for three years through their company’s national program of giving, Safe Step Cares. They have donated tubs to a man in Omaha who had been hit by an uninsured drunk driver, a teenager in Chicago with cerebral palsy, a mother and daughter in South Dakota who were in a motorcycle accident, and a Good Samaritan in Duluth who was hit by a truck while pulling a little boy from an automobile accident. All received free tubs. But until the Facebook request, no requests had been made in their hometown and place of business, Minneapolis. As they have in the past, the Dauffenbachs decided to change lives, in this case, four lives with one gift when they provided and installed one of their best state-of-the-art tubs through Safe Step Cares. And the Dauffenbachs personally attended the donation along with Becky Narveson, the requestor. Finally, the Dauffenbachs announced that Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. of Minnesota is closed its headquarters in order to allow its valued team members to witness the donation. Dozens of team members were present at this giveaway. “We were moved by this story and we are in the business of changing lives every day,” said Craig Dauffenbach. “We see a need and we are pleased to help these precious members of our community with a life-changing gift. It was our pleasure to award them with a free walk-in tub through this program of giving, Safe Step Cares.”
Nevaeh Crews
Her doctors told her she would never walk, talk or function like a normal child. Nevaeh refused to believe that and threw out her wheelchair and walker despite being paralyzed on one side. Since her stroke, she has learned to eat again, write with her other hand, tie her shoes with one hand and speak. Since she is in constant pain and too big for her parents to bathe her anymore, her doctor recommended a walk-in tub but it is out of the family’s financial reach. Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Company, the world’s leading seller and most decorated manufacturer of walk-in tubs heard about Nevaeh’s story and decided to help the family. The company has a national program of giving called Safe Step Cares in which it awards those in need state-of-the-art walk-in tubs at no cost. In the past three years, Safe Step has donated approximately a tub a month to needy recipients. Nevaeh is the first person in the Jacksonville area chosen to be part of the Safe Step Cares family. “We were moved by Nevaeh’s story and Safe Step is in the business of changing lives every day” said Derek Farley, who oversees the Safe Step Cares program. We are here on purpose and with a purpose to change the life of a hard-luck little girl. We are pleased to provide her with a tub at no cost to show her that Safe Step cares.”
Jorge DeLeon
Jorge joined the U.S. Army in 2001 after eight years on the police force in Puerto Rico. On his fourth deployment to Afghanistan in April 2004, Jorge and his unit were on their way back to camp after a patrol through the region. Jorge was driving a Humvee, the lead vehicle of the convoy when it ran over an anti-tank mine. Having taken the full brunt of the mine, Jorge was the only one injured in the explosion. He lost his right leg immediately in the explosion and his left leg was severely injured. He underwent a long recovery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and now wears a computer-controlled prosthetic leg. Jorge has returned to law enforcement and resides in Texas with his wife and three young children. Since his recovery, Jorge has helped raise awareness and inspired other wounded veterans to remain hopeful, even in times of extreme distress and isolation. As a result of his story, Jorge was selected in 2010 to receive a free home courtesy of Operation FINALLY HOME. Safe Step heard about his story and decided to donate a free walk-in tub to assist with Jorge’s independence, comfort, and safety. Operation FINALLY HOME is a national, non-profit organization with a unique network of experienced builders, suppliers, and supporters dedicated to building homes for wounded, ill or injured veterans, surviving spouses, and their families. OFH brings together homebuilders, the military, and communities to build custom mortgage-free homes for America’s heroes, providing a strong foundation to help them move forward with their lives. OFH is honored to unite all of those who respect and value the sacrifice of America’s troops and their families. “As Veterans Day nears, we are reminded of the sacrifices made by our nation’s military,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. “We were touched by Jorge’s story and Operation FINALLY HOME’s generous donation. It’s a perfect home for a deserving veteran. It is only missing one thing and we’ll fix that Monday, the day before Veterans Day.”
John Felts
His doctor recommended a walk-in tub due to the therapeutic and healing benefits, but as a senior on a fixed income, he is unable to afford the tub. Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., which manufactures all of its tubs in Hohenwald, Tenn., has a national program of giving called Safe Step Cares, which routinely provides its state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tubs to those in need. The company is acting on the letter and Felts’ need. The company, which has provided a tub a month for two years running through the program, chose Felts as the area’s first recipient of the nationally- acclaimed program. He received the tub, installed, at no charge. Safe Step representatives were on hand for the donation. “We received a letter from John’s daughter that touched the hearts of everyone at Safe Step, including its owner and founder Mike Duffer, who decided to surprise John with a free tub,” said Derek Farley with Safe Step Cares. “We are in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends every day. We felt John had given so much to his country and his community that it was time to give something back to him. We were very pleased to provide him with this life-changing gift because Safe Step really does care.”
Valerie & Tiffany Heesch
The first Doctor wanted to amputate Valerie's leg, but this was not going to be an option for Valerie. They found an orthopedic surgeon who would try and rebuild her leg and repair her arm. Over a month in the hospital, and several surgeries later - 10 on her leg and 5 on her arm - using countless plates and screws, cadaver bones and several skin grafts, Valerie's recovery continues. Valerie has to wear a full leg brace and uses a cane to walk. She has very limited use of her left hand. Recently she found out that she most likely will have to have her mechanical knee replaced. Life today for Valerie and Tiffany is filled with pain. Valerie takes 1000 milligrams of pain reliever 3 times a day just to ease the pain. Tiffany has had a recent surgery to put a longer rod in her leg which causes continual pain. Tiffany has to take 3-4 hot showers a night to relieve the pain and some nights she sleeps on the floor beside the bathtub, just so she doesn't have to try and walk to the bathroom in pain. Valerie has not taken a bath since the accident. Safe Step heard about their story through one of its employees who knows Valerie and Tiffany personally. He asked the company to help them and they did, making the family the first South Dakota recipients of the national award-winning program of giving, Safe Step Cares. “We were moved by Valerie and Tiffany’s story and Safe Step is in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends, every day,” said Craig Dauffenbach, CEO and Owner of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. of Minnesota. “We felt they could both benefit from our tub as they continue to rehabilitate and recover. We are very pleased to provide them a tub at no cost to show them that Safe Step cares.”
Kenzie Lutrell
And last year, Mike decided to help Kenzie Luttrell, a teenager with Friedreich’s Ataxia, through the Make-A-Wish organization. Teenage girls don’t dream about tubs; they dream about cruises. So, Safe Step funded an Alaskan Cruise for Kenzie and her family. Safe Step Cares has rewarded four other young girls with the same disease, a neuromuscular disorder that weakens the joints and muscles. The company stays in touch with all of our recipients and all of them love their tub and are collectively convinced that it has helped them in their journey with this unforgiving disease. But back to Kenzie, who may receive a tub one day through the Safe Step Cares program; but for now, Mike just decided to make the girl’s dream come true. In true Safe Step form, we didn’t just cut a check. We welcomed her and her family into ours. We invited them and the good folks from Make-A-Wish to our Safe Step headquarters to hear about her cruise and how the cruise brought their family together and exceeded Kenzie’s expectations. Enjoy the recap of that get-together, which ironically happened on Mike’s birthday. He said it was the greatest gift ever to see what granting the wish had done.
Wanda Gray
Executives at Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. in Nashville, Tennessee saw a story online about a woman in Summit, Arkansas - Wanda Gray - who needed a walk-in tub. She refinanced her house in order to obtain one, paid nearly $4000 to buy one then her salesperson (NOT Safe Step) disappeared with her money and didn't deliver the tub. As the category leader and through its national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, Safe Step decided to step in and help Wanda even though they didn't cause the issue. The company and its local dealer IPS gave Wanda its most current and best model on the market. The company's PR agency, DFPR decided to capture this incredible story.
Pamela Poulan
Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., whose national program of giving Safe Step Cares routinely provides its state-of-the-art hydro-therapeutic tubs to those in need, heard about Pamela’s story and chose her as the area’s first recipient of the program. She received a tub, installed, at no charge. "We were moved by Pamela’s story and Safe Step is in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends, every day” said Derek Farley with Safe Step Cares. “We felt she could really benefit from our tub as she continues to rehabilitate and recover. We are very pleased to provide her with this life-changing gift to show her that Safe Step cares.”
Adam Roen
On April 27, 2014, Adam Roen happened upon a truck accident on I-35 in the Carlton area. He assisted a grandmother and her 4-year-old grandson escape from an overturned truck. As he was carrying the young boy to safety, another truck approached. Roen managed to toss the boy to safety but was struck by the truck and pinned underneath. He has had a hard road back, with four surgeries between St. Luke’s Hospital and Hennepin County Medical Center in the Twin Cities due to a broken scapula, torn triceps off of his elbow, broken ulna, broken ribs, torn bladder, broken pelvis, partially dissected right femoral artery, broken left femur, road rash and more. Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., whose national program of giving Safe Step Cares routinely provides its state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tubs to those in need, heard about Adam’s story and has chosen him as Minnesota’s first recipient of the program.
Twin Cities Pavilion
In August of 2013, Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. surprised the 60 residents of Crestview Manor with two state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tubs after receiving a letter that stated the residents of the low-income assisted living facility were bathing in deplorable conditions. The company also learned that the residents were playing bingo for toilet paper so Safe Step donated toilet paper for the life to the facility, a promise it has kept. Safe Step invited Crestview’s facility director Becky Brice Nash and Shirley Perring (who wrote the original letter) to its national dealer conference to speak. One of the guests was the facility director of the sister facility in Niceville, Twin Cities Pavilion, Melissa Mealer. About a week later, Safe Step received a second letter, this one from Mealer, simply asking for consideration for the 40 residents of her facility. In short, she wanted to know if lightning could strike twice. IT DID. Twin Cities received THEIR surprise when Safe Step, under the auspices of a fried chicken dinner and a presentation, treated the residents to beach towels, duffel bags, a world-class walk-in tub, wrapped in Valentine’s Day red, and a walk-in shower as well.
Mac Evans
US Army Veteran Mac Evans served with the 29th Infantry Division during World War II and earned a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantry Badge. He was also chosen as Louisiana’s first recipient of Safe Step Cares. He was formally nominated by a Safe Step employee. This most deserving, highly decorated US Army veteran received the surprise gift of a state-of-the-art hydro-therapeutic tub. “We are simply touched by Mac’s story and his service history,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. “He was carefully considered for this life-changing gift and we can’t wait to give him this world-class tub. It’s our honor to present this very deserving veteran with something that will provide him with comfort and safety for many years to come.”
Christina Davidson
When she realized normalcy was beyond her grasp, she also understood that making a difference for others was in the palms of her hands. She created a silent video about her battle, holding up poster-sized notes for the viewers to see while not saying a word. She posted it on her Facebook page, which has since been repositioned as a public figure page due to an overwhelming response. Her silent video in which she revealed her disease has been viewed more than 12 million times. Safe Step was contacted when Christina was scheduled to appear on The Doctors to discuss her disease and her new foundation. Safe Step answered the call and made a $10,000 donation to her foundation, which was announced on the show on Monday, March 2. In Safe Step Cares fashion, the company didn’t just want to write a check; the company invited Christina to visit the headquarters (where she’ll receive her check) to meet the company’s team members at a lunch meeting and open discussion about her disease and foundation. "We saw her story in the news and were touched. Of course, our first instinct was to give her a free tub to help her achieve comfort for her disease. But she’s more concerned about others and so we wanted to honor her wishes with a donation to her foundation,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. “But this is not just cutting a check. She is now part of our family and we are part of hers. We wanted to present the check to her in person and have her meet the team, all of whom have been inspired by her courageous battle and noble efforts to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis.”
Revisiting Crestview Manor
In 2012, Safe Step provided two of its state-of-the-art tubs to Crestview Manor in Crestview, Florida when it found out that the bathing conditions were less than ideal. Safe Step also promised the facility "Toilet Paper for Life" when it found out the residents were playing Bingo for toilet paper. Safe Step Cares prides itself on being a partner with its recipients rather than doing a public relations fly-by of a donation only. Safe Step Cares stays in touch with every person or facility that has received its tubs. In that, spirit, on a trip to donate a tub and shower to Crestview's sister facility Twin Cities Pavilion in Niceville, Florida. Safe Step founder Mike Duffer treated the residents to a pizza dinner while hearing first-hand how Safe Step Cares had changed so many lives.
LaWanda Pryor
She fell in love with the tub, even making a down payment. Via financial hardship, Ms. Pryor was unable to afford the tub. Safe Step received a letter from Ms. Pryor’s daughter, Amanda Pryor, which told the story of the hard-luck Ms. Pryor has gone through Her husband passed away from cancer, and her daughter took her own life two weeks after her husband’s death. Pryor was taking sink bathes or using baby wipes because she is unable to bathe safely. The letter from the daughter did not ask for a handout; it simply thanked Safe Step for its professionalism, even as it explained the tub was out of her financial reach. It asked for mercy, not a tub. The letter landed on the desk of Mike Duffer, Safe Step’s Founder and President, who immediately declared Ms. Pryor a recipient of Safe Step Cares. “We heard she loved our tub, wanted to buy our tub but through a series of financial and other hardships, she was unable to afford it,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. who made his dying mother a promise that if his company experienced success, he would give back to those less fortunate. “To be candid, we felt Ms. Pryor needed a break. It’s tough to lose the ability to bathe safely so we are going to change her life with a tub through Safe Step Cares while giving her the independence, dignity, and safety she deserves.”
Barbara Turner
The program began in the year 2013 and to date has donated numerous bathtubs across Canada and USA. Barbara is unable to remain independent in her home without a walk-in tub and unfortunately due to a recent financial setback, she doesn’t have the resources to purchase one. Barbara moved from Vancouver Island to Chilliwack and now resides in a mobile home park. A walk-in bathtub will greatly improve her quality of life, allowing her to be independent and safe at home. Born in 1920, Barbara is an example of determination and hard work. She lived in England until after the war when she decided, with her husband, to return to Canada and settle in Saskatchewan. After her marriage broke up, she worked very hard to raise her three daughters and she fondly remembers the time at home with her nine grandchildren. Currently, Barbara has a sharp mind and enjoys working in her garden. For additional information on the Safe Step Cares program in Canada and its recipients, please contact Hernan Urtubey at marketing@safesteptubs.com or 1-855.664-4364 x 279 About Canadian Safe Step Walk-In Tubs: Safe-Step Walk-In Tub Company is committed to empowering North America’s senior citizens, as well as those individuals suffering from the effects of disability and mobility impairment. The company offers domestically produced walk-in bathtubs and walk-in showers tailored to people who seek a therapeutic and high-quality bathing experience.
Revisiting Brookwood Community
In 2014, Safe Step Cares received a video submission for a tub for its residents. Safe Step decided to give them three. The donation days, captured in Brookwood and Brookwood Part 2 on this site, are always special. But what is perhaps more special is when Safe Step revisits our recipients a few months later to see how much the tubs have changed their lives. We took our film crew to speak with the folks there and the video shows the impact of the program.
Brookwood Community Part 2
The Brookwood Community provides an educational environment that creates meaningful jobs, builds a sense of belonging, and demands dignity and respect for adults with disabilities. Located in Brookshire, Texas, 40 miles west of downtown Houston, The Brookwood Community is a non-profit (501(c)3) residential facility and vocational program for adults with disabilities. Safe Step received a video submission for one of its state-of-the-art tubs. Safe Step Cares gave them three. Safe Step captured so much video from the donation day that it needed to break the video up into 2 parts. This is part two, which explains much more about the community itself.
Brookwood Community – The Delivery
The Brookwood community houses 110 citizens who are functionally disabled and has 80 others in its daycare program. The community put together a video request for a state-of-the-art therapeutic tub from Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., via its national program of giving, Safe Step Cares. This is the original video Brookwood submitted: https://vimeo.com/101539869. Safe Step Cares was founded on a promise the owner Mike Duffer made to his mother: If Safe Step experiences success, his company would give back to the communities in which it does business. The company evaluates submissions, letters, and requests and carefully selects those in need, and simply shows up with a tub of love, or sometimes, more than one. What makes the Brookwood story so special, in addition to its deserving residents, is the video is submitted. In short, it blew Safe Step away. The owner, Mike Duffer, said, “let’s give them more than they asked for.” Safe Step Cares surprised them with three tubs.
Lacey Pate
She gets around mainly in her wheelchair. She also was born with a severe club foot and a vertical tail, she has had surgery on her feet 3 times but still, her feet can’t sit flat on the floor. When Lacey was 3 her spine was at an 80-degree angle and her body was the shape of a C. Lacey’s pulmonary specialist had admitted her to the pediatric intensive care unit because her spine was crushing the lung so severely that even with oxygen and a bi-pap machine she was having difficulty breathing. She has now had a total of 47 surgeries. Since having these life-saving surgeries she now only has to have oxygen at night, while flying, when she is sick, and after surgery during her recovery. After her most recent surgery in May, Lacey’s lungs collapsed and she was put on a ventilator and had to have a chest tube placed. She has been in critical condition several times but she is a miracle girl who just refuses to let the condition define her. Safe Step Walk-In Tub Company, which routinely receives numerous letters for tub donations, heard about Lacey’s story and found her online donation site. Through its award-winning national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, the Nashville-based company delivered a state-of-the-art tub to Lacey at no cost to the family in May. Safe Step Cares is based on a promise the owner made to his dying mother, who helped him start the business. He told her if the company became successful that it would make a difference in peoples’ lives through charitable giving. “We were moved by Lacey’s story and how the community has rallied around her,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub, who flew in for the event in order to meet Lacey and her parents. “We came upon her online campaign and decided that after all she and her family had been through, we would surprise them by giving her a tub that will change her life.” Safe Step became aware of Lacey via a letter written by Tim O’Brien, who heard about Lacey’s situation despite never having met her or her parents. Safe Step decided to fly Tim and his wife Daryl to Auburndale in order to meet Lacey and her parents. That will happen later in July of 2014.
Sophia Jablonski
Ms. Jablonski is 4’11”, recently had back surgery and her daughter is as big as her, which makes bathing a complete physical challenge. Naheda is well known in the Orland Park community for her fundraising efforts for others’ causes. She keeps her daughters involved in Girl Scouts and dancing (even Sophia is in a dance group for disabled students). Many in the community, as well as the village itself, have come to her assistance because of her past deeds. Her church remodeled the lower level of her home so a ramp could be installed. They also repainted the interior of the house. When her local bank heard she was facing foreclosure, they stepped up and refinanced her with a 40-year loan she could afford. In looking for ways to ease her daughter’s pain and grant her independence, she reached out to the Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. It’s important to note, that she was interested in purchasing the tub and was not asking for help. It was determined that Ms. Jablonski was unable to afford the tub for her daughter. But, rather than simply moving on, the sales representative who met with Ms. Jablonski, Don Ball, asked his company to help. And they did. Safe Step, which routinely receives numerous letters for tub donations, recognized that Ms. Jablonski was making a difference in her church and community, but she needed assistance for her daughter with a disability. So the company decided to make a difference for the Orland Park teenager and her family. Through its award-winning national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, the Nashville-based company delivered and installed the tub that will change the family’s life. At no cost to the family. “We were moved by the Jablonski’s story and Safe Step is in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends, every day” said Craig Dauffenbach, CEO and owner of Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. of Minnesota, Inc., who chose the Jablonski family as the Safe Step Cares recipient. “We felt the family could really benefit from our tub and we are thrilled to help them with something that will change their lives.”
Corporal Franck Dupéré
A soldier from the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22nd, which served in Afghanistan, Cpl. Dupéré was wounded by a suicide bomber in 2011. He lost an eye, mobility in his left hand, and part of his hearing. As part of its program of giving, Safe Step Cares decided to help Cpl. Dupéré with a state-of-the-art hydrotherapeutic tub donated by Canadian Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., to help improve his mobility, independence, comfort, and safety. At a press gathering at the LeBreton Gallery in the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario, Cpl. Dupéré received his tub. “We were touched by Franck’s story and Dr. Kavanagh’s letter, and decided to step in and see how we could help,” says Derek Farley, who oversees the Safe Step Cares program. “We are delighted to present Cpl. Dupéré with something that will change his life on the day Canada is honoring those who served in Afghanistan.”
Anna Grace McDonald
Anna Grace was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), a chronic illness that can cripple children if left untreated. After years of pain, Anna Grace was able to begin treatment, expensive treatment, including Remicade infusions that cost $14,000 per month. Anna Grace worked toward remission with soaks in hot baths to get her joints moving. Two things were recommended to ease her pain: Heat therapy and water therapy. At a Safe Step sponsored luncheon, Anna Grace spotted something that could provide both: a Safe-Step Walk-In Tub, the world’s best state-of-the-art tub whose air jets and water jets could provide Anna Grace with numerous therapeutic benefits. So enamored with the tub, she got in and posed for a picture. But her parents knew that while the tub could ease Anna Grace’s pain, they simply couldn’t afford the tub. They had both suffered layoffs while Anna Grace was in treatment. Anna’s mother Denise decided she wasn’t going to give up. So she wrote the company whose tub Anna Grace had fallen for. She told Safe Step the story of how Anna was looking at her disease as a ministry and she was going to educate as many people as possible about JIA. Anna Grace spoke at Arthritis Foundation events and created her own Facebook page to do just that. Denise didn’t expect a reply but she received one that has changed her little girl’s life. Safe Step, which routinely receives numerous letters for tub donations, recognized that Anna Grace was making a difference in her school and community. So the company decided to make a difference for the Helena teenager. Through its award-winning national program of giving, Safe Step Cares, the Nashville-based company surprised Anna Grace with the very tub she fell in love with, at no cost to the family. “We were moved by Anna Grace’s story and Safe Step is in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends, every day,” said Mike Duffer, president and founder of Safe Step Walk-In Tub. “We heard she loved our tub and we were thrilled to surprise her with something that has eased her pain and changed her life.”
Jazmyne Harris and Amy & Emily Templeton
Virgil’s 15-year-old daughter Jazmyne also has Friedreich’s Ataxia, a severely debilitating, degenerative disorder that is inherited at birth. So determined to give Jazmyne the quality of life she deserves, Virgil set up a foundation, Jumpin’ for Jazz, to tell her story, increase awareness about FA and raise funds to offset her medical bills. Hand thought the therapeutic tub would be perfect for the family. Safe Step, which routinely receives numerous letters for tub donations, loved the letter and Jazmyne’s story and decided to help. But the company got a big surprise when they called Virgil to let him know. Virgil told Safe Step that the Templetons, another Indianapolis family who has two college-age daughters with FA, were more deserving. If there was one tub to give, Virgil said, give it to the Templetons. Amazed by Virgil’s thoughtfulness, Safe Step decided that one tub wasn’t enough in Indianapolis, so it decided that the Templeton family, at Virgil’s suggestion, would receive the tub for their daughters Amy and Emily, while Jazmyne would receive an additional tub too. “I am so grateful for this gift,” said Harris. “I show my enthusiasm because Jazmyne will benefit but I am so thankful that the Templetons got their tub as well.” Virgil’s thoughtfulness was not lost on the Templetons. “Virgil’s selflessness, and what Safe Step did in providing two tubs, is just unbelievable,” said Paul Templeton, Amy and Emily’s father. “Safe Step came in here and immediately you could tell that they were looking out for us, caring about our needs.” Earlier this year, Safe Step launched its Safe Step Cares program, in which the company rewards those in need on a regular basis at no cost. “We’re a family company and the connections we make along the way are so important to us that we wanted to be here to show them that they are now a part of our family,” said Andi Allender, Safe Step’s director of marketing. “As a result of Safe Step Cares, three girls in Indianapolis are going to gain independence and actually feel better when they bathe.” “Safe Step is in the business of changing the lives of our neighbors and friends, every day,” said Safe Step CFO Stuart Hall, who made the trip from Nashville to Indianapolis to present the tubs in person with Allender at both residences. “We are pleased to be able to provide Jazmyne, Emily, and Amy more safety and comfort as they cope with the effects of this unforgiving disease.” Perhaps Amy and Emily’s mother, Shawna Templeton, summed the event up best: “For ten years, we’ve been like ‘what are we going to do?’ and then to have this all given to us today, I’m just amazed. I’m overwhelmed by the generosity, the love, the friendship, and the beauty of it all.”
Crestview Manor
The second request was simple enough but not immediately in the company’s wheelhouse: toilet paper. Shirley Perring, who sent the message to Safe Step, explained the residents’ plight: “The facility is old but well kept. The tub is dangerous and looks like something out of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and we knew there was a huge need for an upgrade. Further, the needs of the residents here are so basic. It includes something most people take for granted: toilet paper. So, I included it in my request.” Mike Duffer, president, and owner of Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. received the message and decided to do what he could to make the residents’ lives better. Through Safe Step Cares, the company’s nationwide program of giving, Duffer decided to donate two of his Nashville-based company’s state-of-the-art walk-in tubs, one for each floor of Crestview Manor. To top things off, Safe Step will provide “Toilet Paper for Life” for Crestview Manor. “We’re a very blessed company and it’s a pleasure and a privilege to be able to make these life-changing donations,” said Duffer. “The second request took us by surprise but we decided to make toilet paper something that these deserving seniors never have to worry about again.” Duffer, his wife Kathie, and several Safe Step executives traveled to Crestview, Florida to meet the residents recently. They treated them to a catered lunch, brought each resident a gift basket, and made the donation announcement in person. “This is truly a miracle donation,” said Crestview Manor’s director Becky Brice-Nash. “Safe Step proved they really do care. It was a donation of a lifetime for some very special people, and beyond our wildest dreams.”
David Scarbrough
In September of 2012, David’s mother, Ronette, was advised by David’s doctors to seek out a walk-in tub to assist with David’s mobility and therapy. Faced with rising medical costs from David’s care, Ronette took her quest for the walk-in tub online. Andrea Allender, director of marketing at Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co., one of the nation’s leading walk-in tub providers, discovered the fundraising effort online and asked Safe Step’s President and Owner Mike Duffer to change the Scarbrough’s’ lives in an instant, and forever. “I found Ronette and David’s story online and knew we could make a difference,” said Allender. “So I walked into Mike’s office and said, ‘Mike, we have to give them a tub.’ Mike didn’t hesitate. He decided on the spot to make the donation to assist the Scarbroughs.” When the home office called Ronette, her response was a little more than subtle. “Oh my gosh, you guys are awesome,” said Ronette. “I can’t believe this is happening.” Soaky, you see, is a Safe Step’s state-of-the-art, top-of-the-line walk-in tub, which was donated by Safe Step at no cost. David uses the tub up to 7 times a day. His doctors, who recommended Safe Step by name, are as pleased as his mother. “Since we’ve had the tub, David’s mobility has improved. The swelling in his knees has been reduced dramatically,” said Ronette. “When his doctors and therapists heard about the donation, they were amazed and thrilled because they knew the therapeutic benefits of the tub were immense.” Six months after the installation, Safe Step revisited Susanville, California to check in on the Scarborough. And Soaky. “We’re here today because we care,” said Safe Step representative Derek Farley. “We wanted to see the impact of the donation. We found that the tub is used every day, multiple times a day, and that it’s really become a member of the family.” David and Ronette’s story inspired Safe Step’s nationwide initiative called, appropriately, Safe Step Cares. Omaha, Nebraska’s Anthony (Tony) Cato, Jr., a former quadriplegic disabled by an uninsured drunk driver, received Safe Step’s first official Safe Step Cares donation in early April. He was able to take a bath unassisted for the first time in years.
Selena Yorke
April 16, 2013 – Selena Yorke is a charming, inspirational and hope-provoking 11-year old girl. She has incredibly caring parents, great friends and a very supportive older brother. She shares her birthday and a passion for the color purple with Justin Bieber, whom she adores. She also has a disease: Friedreich’s Ataxia, an unforgiving, progressive neuromuscular disorder for which there is no cure. Canadian Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. employees were so moved by Selena’s story that they asked their president Robert J. Hartley II to step up for Selena and her family. On the company’s behalf and at its employees’ behest, Hartley said yes, twice. Safe Step donated its top-of-the-line walk-in tub as well as a walk-in shower to the Yorkes as part of the company’s Safe Step Cares program, a nationwide initiative to provide state-of-the-art tubs to those in need. Canadian Safe Step even brought her tub in a box in her favorite color: purple. “Whoa!” said Selena, as the purple box was removed to reveal her gift. “It’s got a bar, it’s got jets, it’s like a hot tub,” she continued before getting into the tub. Safe Step says Selena is the first Canadian honoree – and second overall – of Safe Step Cares and that the company intends to keep giving back to the communities it serves on a regular basis. “Today is about Selena,” said Hartley. “She is a delightful young lady and we’re here to assist her in her quality of life. Safe Step changes lives every day and we could not be more thrilled to change Selena’s life today.” Selena’s day did not end with the tub and shower donation. Friends and family pulled together A Night for Selena at the Cascades Casino Resort in Langley. The event raised more than $26,000, which will be used for necessary for renovations on the Yorke’s home to accommodate their beloved daughter. Additional donations can be made through Toronto Dominion Bank, account #9194-524-1677, cheque/check payable to A Night for Selena. “It’s great to know that you have support and that you don’t have to do this alone,” said Selena’s brother. “To get this type of help from people, some you don’t even know, is overwhelming,” added Selena’s father Brad Yorke. “We have such amazing friends and family,” said Selena’s mother Cari Yorke. “Safe Step not only gave a Selena a tub and shower but they also have given her comfort and independence and brought awareness to her disease. This gift to us is life-changing because Selena loves baths.” She also loved the purple box.
Tony Cato
Tony, who walks on his own but still suffers partial paralysis, recently received a surprise of his own, as representatives from Nashville-based Safe Step Walk-In Tub Co. arrived in Omaha to bring Tony its top-of-the-line walk-in tub free of charge as part of the Safe Step Cares program. Cato couldn’t escape tears as he walked slowly down his porch steps to see his new tub. “This is a miracle,” said Cato. “I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to take a bath again, but now I can.” Tony has undergone 12 surgeries since the wreck and his mother says his medical bills are in the millions. In a conversation with his friend Jennifer Galloway in January, Tony was asked if he could have one thing, what it would be. His answer: a tub. So she wrote several leading walk-in tub companies requesting consideration for a donation. “I took a chance but didn’t know if it would turn into anything,” said Galloway. “But it was on my heart, so I wanted to give it my best shot for Tony.” Only one company responded: Safe Step. “We heard his story, how he had fought back, never quit, never complained and made time to speak to the dangers of drunk driving in between volunteering at the VA among other community endeavors, and we said, ‘this is our guy, let’s swoop in and show him Safe Step cares,” said Omaha native and Safe Step’s corporate marketing manager Danielle Revelette, who flew in to be a part of Tony’s special moment. “We are here to change his life,” added Revelette. Safe Step says that Tony is the first recipient of Safe Step Cares but the company intends to keep giving back to the communities it serves on a regular basis. “Safe Step’s business is about changing lives,” said Safe Step executive Stuart Hall, who also came to Omaha to meet Tony. “When I saw the look on his face as he walked out to see the tub, I knew that we had done the right thing. Safe Step is here because we care about Tony.” Tony’s first words upon seeing the completed install: “Wow, it’s unbelievable. This is going to be great. Now get out of here so I can take a bath (his first on his own in more than five years).”
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