Cole Foundation

The COLE (Children’s Organization of Lending Equipment) Foundation’s mission is to connect costly adaptive equipment from children with disabilities who outgrow the equipment to other children who need it. Private donors help bridge the gap to fill requests of needed adapted equipment otherwise not obtained through donations. The lended equipment can be used up to 6 months at a time.

The COLE Foundation began out of a mother’s necessity she found when caring for her special needs child. About three years ago, Colleen Peterson noticed there was a fundamental need in her community that was lacking. After years of first-hand experience with her special needs son, she saw that there was no option for renting or securing necessary adaptive equipment while insurance claims were being processed. Let alone if insurance would even cover multiple adaptive equipment for one special needs child in a family. Colleen dove into the details on how to create her own non-profit to help other families like hers be able to have this basic need be met.

Since its inception, The COLE Foundation has grown significantly. The lending library of adaptive equipment has grown exponentially to where a new warehouse is needed to store all the donated adaptive equipment. More than 80 special needs children in Minnesota/Wisconsin have been able to now walk, sit, stand, bike or even take a bath safely. The awareness of the Foundation has also reached hospitals, PT/OT programs and various schools. With the help of local volunteers and Colleen at the helm, The COLE Foundation hopes to continue to grow and help more children with disabilities reach their maximum potential.