Blue Hill, Maine — With a fully executed Purchase and Sale Agreement in place and a closing scheduled for early June, the Clements Family Trust has fulfilled a $50,000 pledge made earlier in the Save Friendship Cottage campaign, reaffirming its confidence in the project and its belief in the long‑term importance of adult day services in Hancock County.
The pledge fulfillment — now one of the two largest gifts to the campaign to date — comes as the effort enters its final phase, focused on completing the purchase of Friendship Cottage and securing remaining $150,000 in funds needed for essential building repairs, including roof replacement planned for the upcoming construction season. The Clements family hopes their leadership investment will serve as a catalyst for others to step forward and help bring this community effort across the finish line.
“We made this commitment early because we believed in the program, the people, and the community’s capacity to come together,” said a representative of the Clements Family Trust. “As we fulfill that pledge now, our hope is to encourage others to join in completing what has already been a remarkable and successful effort.”
The gift honors the legacy of Helen Clements, whose lifelong dedication to the dignity, care, and well‑being of older adults spanned more than five decades. Beginning in the 1940s, Helen devoted her civic and philanthropic life to strengthening services for elders — values
that continue to guide her family’s giving today. Helen was an early board member of the Benjamin Rose Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, one of the nation’s pioneering organizations focused on aging research, advocacy, and services. She also devoted countless hours to the Central School of Practical Nursing in Cleveland, which trained nurses to deliver home‑ and community‑based care, largely serving older adults. Both organizations remain active today, continuing work she helped shape.
Her interest in elder care extended well beyond formal roles. Family members recall attending dedications of eldercare facilities throughout Cleveland, and during a family trip to Europe in the 1950s, Helen arranged a special visit to a forward‑thinking eldercare community in Denmark that featured innovative design elements — including wheelchair‑accessible raised gardens — decades ahead of their time.
“This gift reflects our mother and grandmother’s belief that elders deserve respect, innovation, and compassionate care,” the family representative added. “It has been meaningful for us to see those values reflected so clearly in Friendship Cottage and in the community’s commitment to preserving it.”
That community commitment has already produced substantial progress. More than $500,000 has been raised toward the $600,000 purchase price, and the Purchase and Sale Agreement is now fully executed. The project is moving through final due diligence, with a funding contingency and inspection period ending May 21 and a target closing date of June 5.
As the purchase moves toward completion, organizers are working to secure the remaining funds needed for critical repairs by the end of May, allowing the final purchase price to be confirmed and enabling timely roof replacement during the upcoming construction season. Addressing these needs promptly will help prevent further water damage and protect the building’s long‑term integrity.
While much has already been accomplished, approximately $150,000 remains to be raised to complete the purchase and address deferred maintenance, including roof replacement and other necessary building improvements. Leaders emphasize that these final investments will help ensure Partnership Cottage remains safe, functional, and sustainable for years to come.
Friendship Cottage has become increasingly vital as Hancock County has experienced the gradual closure of its nursing homes. The program provides adult day services for individuals with physical, cognitive, or memory challenges, supporting participants and caregivers alike while allowing older adults to remain in their homes and communities as long as possible.
As the campaign enters its final stage, community members, businesses, and organizations are invited to build on the strong foundation already established — helping complete a project that has demonstrated both broad support and lasting value.
Please note that Friendship Cottage has a new phone number. For more information about services, enrollment, or ways to support the Save Friendship Cottage Building Fund, call (207) 610‑5003 or email anne.ossanna@acap-me.org.
