HELP of Door County Receives Green Bay Packers Foundation Grant for Elder Abuse Program

The Green Bay Packers Foundation made the year a little brighter for elderly victims of domestic abuse in Door County with a grant of $3,000 to HELP of Door County’s Elder Abuse Program. Grants this year went to programs and organizations focused on the elderly, homelessness, human services and hunger. The foundation was established by the late Judge Robert J. Parins, the president of the Green Bay Packers who in 1986 wanted to ensure that the nonprofit Packers continued “contributions to charity.” Since then, the foundation has awarded more than $8.5 million in grants.

Steve Vickman, executive director of HELP of Door County, said, “Last year Door County, with the second largest concentration of elderly in the state, had 190 reported incidents of elder abuse and neglect. Elder abuse is a complex problem and is not just a problem of older people living on the margins of everyday life in nursing homes. Unfortunately 95 percent of elder abuse happens to elders living on their own or with their spouses, children, siblings or other relatives – not in institutional settings. Often the abuse is subtle and with elders may take the form of financial abuse. We are incredibly grateful for this grant from the Green Bay Packer Foundation which will enable us to continue our outreach to educate the community about the dynamics of elder abuse issues and provide support for individuals in those abusive relationships.”