Rescu Foundation Inc

RESCU Foundation Inc does great things, and I know this because I have been a volunteer for many fundraising events.
Comprehensive health care is a fundamental human right. However, many self-employed people nationwide do not have the resources or adequate health insurance they need. The RESCU Foundation bridges that need, providing an invaluable service for the Renaissance Festival community, a rich and diverse community of self-employed individuals across the country. Through financial assistance, advocacy, education, and preventative programs, RESCU Foundation serves the community with a mission to help those in need and does so brilliantly.

I have witnessed the amazing work this organization does to support performers, vendors, staff, and volunteers of renaissance festivals across the country. Additionally RESCU organizes and provides health resource events and free performances for disadvantaged and marginalized groups for the local communities where festivals take place.

The work of RESCU first captured my heart years ago when I heard about the local RESCU Rally (one of RESCU’s fundraising events). I found out that RESCU had been created for the health and well-being of the community, and that the mission included financial aid, advocacy, and educational and preventative programming. Finding out more about how RESCU came to be inspired me further- it’s a story of transforming tragedy into triumph. And that is why I give my time, my voice, my energy, and my money to RESCU Foundation.

I love the Health Fair Days around the country that make available no cost or low cost care to all participants, many of whom would not otherwise access these important health resources. These resources include doctors and nurse practitioners, dermatologists, dentists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and many ΜΑΝΥ more.

I love the First Aid Kit Giveaways at festivals both new and well established, as well as the many other tangibles given away multiple weeks during a festival run (things like toothpaste and toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, masks, and more).

I love the Dr. George Big Heart AED Unit Program that gets AED Units to these communities all across the nation, making life saving resources available in the event that tragedy strikes.

I love the Mental Health First Aid trainings that RESCU helps people to attend, empowering individuals all over the circuit to step in during a crisis.

I love the financial aid and advocacy work that means neighbors are helping neighbors.

Most of all, I love that RESCU connects our community with the power of health. Huzzah to the Health of the Company!

I was on unemployed for a bit and fell behind on a dental bill. It wasn't a big bill, but RESCU helped me negotiate it down and gave me the money to pay it off.

This group of caring, skilled dedicated people have helped me and my family on numerous occasions. On so many levels. My mother and sister had a combined 30 years in this community and when both were diagnosed with cancer, RESCU provided assistance. More then the monetary assistance which was vital, I came to value even more over time, the insights of our advocates. My sister was able to learn invaluable tools to advocate for herself and when her cancer returned RESCU was there again for both of us. Even now, years after both have passed, I find myself still very much supported by this community.

RESCU has been such a big part of my life as a Rennie for a decade. They have worked hard to advocate for those of us who need help with both bills and treatments. They are able to teach us about medical advocacy as well as putting on wonderful fundraising events that bring our community together even as we are spread across the country.

A board member since 2014, RESCUfoundation has stolen a giant piece of my heart. Originally, I got involved so I could give back in some small way, to the community I've called home for twenty-six years. I could never have anticipated the amazing sense of joy and satisfaction it brings. I have the privilege of working with tirelessly dedicated people, and serving a close-knit community of creative, generous, caring individuals. It has been my delight to represent this fine organization within our community, as a liaison to festival management, as interim Programs Director, and now, as Chair of the Communications committee. It is here, and specifically in this topsy-turvy CoVid-affected world, that I have logged the most hours, and have seen the most selfless outpouring of love and time from my peers. With our livelihoods stripped and our futures uncertain, our community is devastated by this pandemic and needs our services perhaps now more than ever. Yet, at the same time fundraising without gathering people became the difficult new normal. Despite the odds, our team soldiers on--dreaming up online programs and virtual auctions and having to work many times harder than ever before. Our Vision Statement is Connecting our Community with the Power of Health. The more personal, hands-on reality for me, is that in my years of involvement, I have been empowered by RESCU, itself. I am inspired daily by those around me, and I am better for my involvement. I could scarcely be more proud to be a part of this magic.

Working with RESCU and hearing from people that I see for 9 weekends out of a year and consider family that have been helped by RESCU makes me feel great! Whenever I have a question or a suggestion for improvement, I'm always met with a straight forward answer and given the time to fully explain a suggestion before they react with either explanations or excitement to try out the suggestion in the future.

RESCU focuses not only on helping people who need assistance but is also dedicated to preventing illness and maintaining health.

RESCU has helped my husband and I several times. For example, when Mark was rushed from the PA Faire in an ambulance in a diabetic coma with pneumonia, the hospital bills were substantial, and we didn't have insurance. A RESCU advocate taught me how to advocate for ourselves, to reduce the bill, and then also spoke to the hospital on our behalf. It was a huge help, taught us a lot, and reconciled the debt much faster than we ever could have alone. They've also helped with emergency situations where lifesaving insulin was needed. Every step of the way, this charity promotes education, and regularly hosts Health Fair days, giving Renaissance Entertainers, Services, & Crafters access to a Nurse Practitioner, a Professional Counselor, and even help to quit smoking. They also hosted a Community Care day, where we learned basic and advanced first aid, and how to handle emergency situations. Truly, RESCU is a blessing to our community, and a huge boon to our health and well-being. We are extremely thankful!

Every year Rescu comes to Sherwood Forest Faire and has set up a health faire. One of the great things is the dermatologist. She looked at one of my moles and said it should be removed. I went and had it removed and it was cancerous! They also have a nutritionist who had a lot of good information. Everyone that I have meet Rescu has always been extremely helpful. They showed me step by step on how to fill out the form to get medical assistance. What a blessing they are to all the people they serve.
Thank you so much for being there.

A. Amazing organization that goes above and beyond to help those in need

I have attended ren faires and festivals my entire life. I have been patron, cast, and vendor in several states over the last eleven years. Every one of the rennies I have ever seen in need has always been supported by their community, and there's no better way to represent that support, than RESCU. Thank you for all that you do for all of us. I say this lovingly, but I hope i never need RESCU services, but i will happily continue to support them!

As a full time participant at renaissance festivals around the country, I am often away from my medical providers. In 2015 I was diagnosed with cancer, and underwent 4 surgeries and additional treatment that year. Some was covered by insurance, but the bulk of the cost, and the additional travel expenses, cost of medication, and additional treatments left me financially paralyzed. RESCU helped defray these costs, and continues to support me in my ongoing treatments. If it weren’t for RESCU, I wouldn’t have been able to make ends meet. Their support enabled me to focus on my healing, by taking some of the financial worry off my mind.

I travel with Renaissance Festivals and am often away from my PCP. Over the last several years, there have been a time or two when my BP meds ran out and my PCP wouldn’t refill until I made it back home, which was not going to happen for months! RESCU engages the services of a wonderful NP, and she was able to see me, check my vitals and renew my RX. Going just a few days without my BP medicines could have had disastrous consequences, all because I travel and am self employed. Thank heavens for the help of RESCU Foundation! Thanks Guys!!!

RESCU is very much needed in the renaissance community. We need a way to get the right word out there to all. An amazing organization that can help all in the community with the requirements (starting with a participant pass) in their medical needs. Qualifying can mean help financially, advocating or just verbal guidance /support

I travel the United states with Renaissance Fairs and it's hard to find a reliable insurance that provides care out of network when I'm on the road. There is no real plan that can help me. RESCU was there for me when I had a $36k medical emergency and helped teach me to haggle my own medical Bill's and reduce them to $6k and RESCU offered to pay a portion to helped eliminate any crippling debt that could of had. THANK YOU RESCU!

Having served on the board for many years, I’ve watched the members of this organization work tirelessly to aid the medically underserved participants of the Renaissance community. Health faires are organized nationwide to bring medical providers to clients, aid panels review aid cases and assist so many in need. The work has been long and challenging, but the reward of knowing a Faire participant can get the help they need is worth every bit of the labor of love that is RESCU Foundation.
-Danielle Dupont

I started working Renaissance festival in the fall of 2004. in May of 2011 I was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Through diet and lifestyle change, I have been able to mitigate the symptoms that have plagued me; however, about eight months ago my condition was progressing to the point where I was unable to perform most daily functions. I needed to see a neurologist and receive MRI's to get imaging on how my nervous system was doing.

The staff at the RESCU foundation have been amazingly helpful, cordial, and empathetic, and thanks to them, I am able to continue

I performed as a volunteer advocate in coordination with RESCU, helping a member of the community navigate the healthcare process and finding much-needed help. The RESCU team was accessible and came through with quick financial aid when needed. I was gratified, knowing that the organization was there to support the client and my intervention, which certainly would not have been possible without their help!

In the summer of '09 my husband and I were performing in Wisconsin, hundreds of miles from home, when Gregg doubled over with unbearable pains in his abdomen. We were both very healthy, so this was a real scare. We held off as long as we could, but finally, on our doctor's advice, went to the emergency room.

It turned out to be a kidney stone. I stayed engaged and informed with the hospital about what was being done, but even with refusal of redundant tests and treatments, and no follow-up visits, the hospital bill was over five thousand dollars: enough to dissolve our business and take us off the road, if RESCU had not been around. Between negotiation and financial support we were able to continue our performances without missing a single date. We put out our best album that year, and we're still performing today.

I have been a volunteer with RESCU almost since its inception. We have held many fund-raising events, including some quite imaginative ones, and one thing that shines through all the events is the community spirit and desire to help.
The community it serves is one that will always find it hard to get insurance, even if many could afford it. The many educational and preventative medicine programs have had a positive effect, and any assistance provided through programs such as this are necessary and very much appreciated.