SPRINGVALE — When Leslie Morissette attended the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year finale, she and the other nine finalist heroes were able to bring someone along as their guest.

Those who know Morissette and know of the Grahamtastic Connection, the non-profit that provides technology for sick kids, were not surprised she brought a youngster along. Phillip, 11, is in remission from the cancer he has been dealing with for four years. He is  among the 1,591 children who have benefitted from the Grahamtastic Connection since Morissette established the program 20 years ago to honor her son Graham, 8, who died of leukemia in 1997.

“He got a standing ovation,” at the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year finale, said Morissette of Phillip.

Phillip has been using a robot supplied by Grahamtastic Connection that he calls “Philbot.” The robot allowed Phillip to attend school, have lunch with his friends and keep in touch with friends and relatives. It allowed him to keep up with school work and keep in touch in ways that were impossible even 10 years ago. 

Morissette was named a CNN hero back in March. She and nine others were selected as finalists for the 2017 CNN Hero of the Year program, which was decided by online voting. The winner, Amy Wright of Wilmington, North Carolina, the founder and CEO of Bitty and Beau’s Coffee Shop, was announced during the Sunday night program. The coffee shop, named for her children who have Down’s Syndrome, employs about 40 people with disabilities. Wright won $100,000 for the program. Profits from the coffee shop go to Wright’s nonprofit agency, called Able to Work USA, which helps connect disabled people with prospective employers.

Now, Morissette and the others have an opportunity to raise funds for their nonprofits to be matched, up to $50,000, for each hero’s program, by Subaru of America. To be matched, donations must be made through crowdwise by Jan. 7; to donate to Grahamtastic Connection, go to link: https://www.crowdrise.com/Top10CNNHeroes.

Like most nonprofits, Grahamtastic relies on donations and grants, hosting an annual walk, dance and auction, and other events to bring in funds to help buy and supply robots, iPads and laptop computers.

As well as  financial donations to the program, Grahamtastic could use more new iPads and laptops — and robots. Morissette said Grahamtastic Connection has 18 robots now, all spoken for, and two children on the waiting list.

While many may think of Grahamtastic Connection as being a Maine or New England entity, the nonprofit sends iPads and robots and laptops to sick kids in states across the country.

The CNN hero program has “reset the program,” Morissette said. She dreams that a large corporate sponsor or a celebrity spokesperson will emerge from the publicity generated by the CNN Hero program, to help Grahamtastic Connection connect more kids with technology on a long term basis and in so doing, link them with their schools and their friends — to keep those important connections when they need them most.

As to the hero designation, Morissette said that more rightfully belongs to her son, Graham. 

She said she is grateful to the Sanford and Springvale village community for their support over the past 20 years and going forward.

“I thank family and friends and this wonderful community that brought us to this place,” said Morissette. “I am so proud to represent all of us in this work.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.