Gaylord Hospital’s Traurig House Renovation Project Gets Boost from Grainger Foundation Donation

The Grainger Foundation, an independent, private foundation located in Lake Forest, Illinois, has donated $10,000 to Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in support of Gaylord Hospital’s Louis D. Traurig House, Connecticut’s only residential brain injury center.

The donation marks the Foundation’s second grant in two years in support of the Traurig House. In 2016, a grant of $5,000 was included in the public “Traurig Challenge” to encourage the community to make a contribution towards the house’s complete internal renovation and update.

Traurig House aims to ease brain-injured and stroke patients’ transition from the hospital to the outside world while living in a safe, homelike environment. Traurig residents work toward maximizing their mobility, communication and thinking skills; acquiring the basic skills of independent living; and regaining the necessary skills for reentering the community.

Leigh Golembiewski, Manager of Traurig House, said the grant money will help complete the upgrades needed to create a more inviting environment for residents and to address decades of wear and tear by residents as they learn to re-master their environment with walkers, wheelchairs and compromised motor skills.

“Traurig is an important step to continuing on their path to recovery and increased independence for our residents as they prepare for their return home. We are grateful to The Grainger Foundation for its generosity.”

The donation, which was recommended by Kendra Carey, Branch Manager of W.W. Grainger, Inc.’s, North Haven location, is the company’s latest show of support for Gaylord. Grainger has been a part of the North Haven business community for more than 25 years as the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products. Grainger employees recently volunteered to prepare trails in anticipation of the Gaylord Gauntlet 5k Trail and Obstacle Run in support of adaptive sports programs.

“We are proud to recommend the programs offered by Gaylord Hospital,” said Carey. “We understand the importance of giving support and hope to patients who suffer brain injury or stroke, and their families.”