McCarthy Brothers Bond
Our Mission
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McCarthy Brothers Bond, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) Massachusetts non-profit organized to provide opportunities to siblings and families of individuals with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities by providing scholarships for charitable purposes to families in their local community and beyond.
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To provide opportunities and experiences to the typical siblings and families of those that are balancing their lives while supporting a member with complex health conditions and developmental disabilities. Ways that we are planning to accomplish this include a scholarship annually at Greenfield High School located in the McCarthy Brothers hometown as well as scholarships to camps previously attended by the brothers. The organization also plans to support families by assisting in the cost of renting necessary medical equipment to enjoy vacations away from home. Other ways this organization hopes to encourage family experiences is assisting with other costs such as lift tickets or ski lessons at mountains that have programs for those with special needs.
Our Vision
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McCarthy Brothers Bond, Inc. was created in March of 2024 by Angela and Michael McCarthy after the tragic death of their youngest son Shane due to acute bacterial meningitis. The parents wanted to start a foundation that would honor the bond and love between their two boys in an effort to honor Shane’s memory and to do good from an unthinkable tragedy.
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Shane was twenty-one years old and was in his Junior year at Northeastern University D’Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston, MA at the time of his death. Angela and Michael’s other son Colin, just seventeen months older, was one of Shane's biggest supporters and had the most influence on Shane’s character and many other aspects of his life. Colin was able to do this despite being non-verbal and non-ambulatory and also severely medically challenged. The bond between these two brothers started at an early age- when Shane would want to help with the care of his brother or simply to entertain him. Shane was fiercely independent, he always strived to not require attention from his parents as he knew that Colin’s needs were great.
Our Story
Shane learned from Colin how to read people’s emotions from facial expressions and body language. Shane knew to appreciate the capabilities that he had and to not take them for granted. Due to the many medical specialists involved in Colin’s care, surgeries, procedures and hospital stays that his brother endured, Shane was also keenly aware of the fragility of life. Shane cared deeply about his family and friends and made the most of every opportunity that he was given. The most important lesson shared between the two boys was that of unconditional love and that the bond between brothers can never be broken.
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Throughout the course of the boys lives we did our best to provide balance for them both, but it was not always easy. There were many sacrifices that Shane made, many missed opportunities and missed experiences. Through the McCarthy Brothers Bond organization we want to help siblings and families with opportunities to be together but also support and provide opportunities for the typical sibling so that they have opportunities to shine independently.
