August was a very exciting time at the Plummer Home in Salem as our boys received a state-of-the-art basketball court, courtesy of football hall-of-famer Steve Young's Forever Young Foundation and the Celtics - RE/MAX Home Court program. As the court was unveiled, 15 teen-age boys were awed by a personal visit from Celtics forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Celtics legend Cedric Maxwell.
For several years, I served on the board of Plummer Home, and I can attest to this set of events being a highlight for many of the home's residents.
The series of events that brought about this spectacular month make for a surprise-filled story about how small acts of generosity can lead to large and unanticipated wonders never expected by the original donor.
It all started when Caroline Plummer left funds in her will to create a reform school. How could she have known that more than 150 years later, the organization would still exist and somebody would donate a used piano?
Two years ago, two local donors donated a piano to the Plummer Home. Staffers, who never had a piano before, put it in the living room.
In short order, a few residents started trying to plunk out tunes. Observing this, some staff members with musical talent offered to come in during their off-hours and offer some music lessons.
Well, one thing led to another, and soon another volunteer/supporter arranged for a donation of musical equipment. Plummer Home received some starter instruments from First Act in Boston.
With the boys so clearly interested, the staff decided they needed a dedicated music space. So they and the boys painted a tiny room in the attic and donned it "the music room." In that small room staff and community volunteers provided lessons on the guitar, bass and drums, and a weekly music group was born.
As more people heard about the program, more equipment arrived. Now the music group would no longer fit in the attic. Deciding to dedicate a larger space in the main part of the house to music, the staff moved everything downstairs and hired professional instructors.
Today the program is led by musician and producer Aaron Katz.
Not long after starting at Plummer Home, Katz, who has toured nationally and currently plays with a band called the Dejas, invited his musical partner, Callie Lipton, to play music with the boys. Profoundly moved by her experience, Lipton started talking about it with friends.
Hearing about the music program, the mother of a friend of Lipton's visited Plummer Home. Moved by what she saw, she started spending time with residents, cooking brunch with them, taking them for dinner on holidays and listening to their music.
She saw the decrepit basketball court and saw the heavy use it got from the teenage residents. As it turns out, she works for a man who serves on the board of the Forever Young Foundation, which is committed to serving children facing significant physical, emotional and financial challenges.
So last November, the Forever Young Foundation, which generally works on the West Coast and internationally, decided to visit Plummer Home. Their executive director took a red-eye to Boston, drove to Salem, looked at the basketball court, drove back to the airport and flew home. Shortly afterwards the foundation notified the staff at Plummer Home that it would fund the demolition of the old court and construction of a new, multi-purpose sports court in its place.
As with many construction projects, the demolition and preparation turned out to be a bigger deal than first thought. Local contractor Dave Cahill, who was hired to do the work, wound up donating many hours of his time and effort. Not only that, but he enthusiastically involved the Plummer boys in his work, taking time to teach them as the project progressed.
When community members connect with Plummer boys on this level, it is invaluable, as the residents rarely have the experience of anyone other than paid staff taking the time to teach them and encourage them along.
While Plummer Home and the Forever Young Foundation were working out the details, Plummer Home staff were encouraged to apply for an award from the Celtics - RE/MAX Home Court Program. The boys wrote letters explaining to the Celtics why they needed a new court. One of the boys at Plummer Home even wrote that though he did not enjoy playing basketball, his housemates did, and so he hoped the Celtics would consider helping with a new court for them.
And so came the visit from the Celtics. Who could have predicted that during that visit, player Big Baby would tell the boys that he, too, had spent time living in a group home when he was young?
The shot in the arm that one piece of information gave them, was immeasurable as they considered that their futures also could be bright.
So on many days one can now hear the consistent beat of a bouncing basketball in the back of the Plummer Home. And it all started with a simple bequest from Caroline Plummer in 1856, and much later, a used piano in 2008.
Never underestimate the power of giving from your heart at whatever level you can. Gifts from the heart last forever and can lead to the most unexpected, wonderful and inspiring results long after your gift and can positively affect so many people you may never meet.
• • •
Rachel Lutts of Salem served on the board of the Plummer Home for Boys from 2006 until this past June.
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