Honorees
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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