Professional
Testimonials
"During the past twenty plus years representing children with disabilities in personal injury cases, I encountered a common problem. After a good settlement or verdict was obtained and a special needs trust was established for the child's money, I would inevitably receive calls from parents who were frustrated by their efforts to interact with the trustee to obtain money for necessities for their child. After all, the SNT was set up to provide for the child's necessities while preserving the child's Medicaid or SSI benefits, so why should the parent feel belittled when he or she tried to work with the trustee on behalf of the child? In each of these cases, the trustee was a bank or other financial institution which was not well-suited to dealing with families.
This problem was alleviated when I discovered the Commonwealth Community Trust (CCT) and other non-profit organizations like it that adminster pooled special needs trusts. The big difference, in my experience, was the trustees were now trained social workers who empathized with the family. That's not to say that the money is managed by social workers. In the case of CCT, it is managed by the Trust Company of Virginia, a well-established financial institution. The families, however, deal directly with the social workers."
Michael Phelan, Attorney See full article
"I just wanted you to know how helpful the services of the Commonwealth Community Trust (CCT) have been to so many clients of my law firm. With the two different special needs trusts (one for family members to use and the pooled disability trust for self-settled funds), CCT provides a great alternative for families who don't want to use other family members as Trustees, for any number of reasons. The expertise of the CCT staff, in conjunction with the Trust Company of Virginia (TCVA), in handling disbursements and reporting requirements, as well as TCVA's expertise in managing trust investments, provides peace of mind for many families.
"I know that other professionals are finding out about the benefits of CCT and recommending it to their clients as well."
Carolyn A.H. Bourdow, Attorney
Bourdow, Bowen & Ellis, P.C.
Midlothian, VA
"I would like to recommend the Commonwealth Community Trust wholeheartedly for those seeking safe and cost effective trust services. CCT is particularly appropriate to protect clients who have a need to maintain Medicaid and other income dependent benefits. I have personally used the Commonwealth Community Trust to receive settlement proceeds of disabled, personal injury clients who had a need to maintain Medicaid and other income dependent benefits. Commonwealth Community Trust is particularly effective for clients who receive less than overwhelming settlements and for whom an individual trust may be unavailable or cost prohibitive.
"The Commonwealth Community Trust has an added benefit of being organized and run in a very client friendly and sympathetic fashion. The impetus behind CCT remains the parents of disabled persons and other Advocates. It therefore has a human face and approach missing in many banks and trust companies. Actual investment decisions are nonetheless handled by one of the best and most trusted trust companies in the state, the Trust Company of Virginia."
Stephen W. Bricker, Attorney
Bricker and Herring
Richmond, VA
"The staff at CCT is extremely knowledgeable about the detailed requirements imposed by the Social Security Administration and the Departments of Social Services for beneficiaries receiving these benefits. The transition to CCT has been comfortable and seamless for my clients. What a great and inexpensive way for clients to maintain their benefits."
Karen E. Dunivan, Attorney
Thompson & McMullan, P.C.
100 Shockoe Slip
Richmond, VA 23219
"During my 17 years leading a statewide organization serving people with disabilities I have been involved with many issues, but none as emotionally charged as the question no caregiver ever wants to think about - 'What will happen when I am gone?' I am also the parent of a child with severe disabilities and know that pain of even thinking about a time when I won't be around to take care of her. I also understand that it is in her best interest to make plans for the future. With CCT I know there is a way to ensure that her financial future will be well managed and that they will provide the financial guidance she will need."
Harry Weinstock, MSW
Richmond, VA
Participant Testimonials
"The family would like to thank you and your exceptional staff for the continued support over the years and especially your attention to detail. We were a very involved family in every aspect of [the beneficiary's] care and it helped to have a partner that was proactive in assisting us, sometimes on very short notice." -- The Damminger Family, Ashburn, VA
"We are not only supporters of the Commonwealth Community Trust, but our son, and therefore our family, is a client as well. While all parents want their children's futures to be as bright as possible, it is even more worrisome and important when the child has a disability. By creating a Special Needs Trust for our son with Down Syndrome, not only have we helped to ensure more opportunities for him after we are gone, we have also not made him a significant financial burden for his siblings and relatives. CCT has made the future brighter for everyone in our family." -- Harry and Cynthia Gewanter, Richmond, VA
"Thank you for all your care. I'm so grateful for the Commonwealth Community Trust. It has provided for my needs that otherwise would not have been met." --Virginia Beach, VA
"Thank you for all of your time and patience. My son will be better cared for due to your time and dedication." --Newport News, VA
"Thank you for your assistance with the trust fund for the past several years. I have been delighted with the level of customer service that I have received and the very personal attention that you have given to each transaction. I also appreciate your emotional support during some difficult times. Thank you again and may God bless you and the other families that you are helping." --Newport News, VA
"Service is excellent!" --Chesapeake, VA
"You're doing an excellent job." --Urbana, VA
"After the last Trustee, it has been a pleasure working with the Commonwealth Community Trust." --Harrisonburg, VA
"CCT has been a blessing. Help is just a phone call away. When I don't understand something, you are always respectful when you explain it." --Staunton, VA
"We have found our relationship to be quite satisfactory and are pleased to have found your organization." --Lynchburg, VA
"I am very pleased with the service I've received from CCT. Both Joanne Marcus and Lisa Hessberg have been very kind and efficient. Their helpfulness has been wonderful." --Charlottesville, VA
"Service has always been good. My client is well-supported." --Case Manager, Ashland, VA
"My experience with CCT has always been pleasant." --Norfolk, VA
"Good service!! And advice on information on any claim that would interfere with Trustee benefits." --Roanoke, VA
"I am extremely pleased with the great services I have received from Commonwealth Community Trust. Also, Joanne Marcus has been very polite and helpful in every way. I will highly recommend your organization to all my friends." --Arlington, VA
"During the past twenty plus years representing children with disabilities in personal injury cases, I encountered a common problem. After a good settlement or verdict was obtained and a special needs trust was established for the child's money, I would inevitably receive calls from parents who were frustrated by their efforts to interact with the trustee to obtain money for necessities for their child. After all, the SNT was set up to provide for the child's necessities while preserving the child's Medicaid or SSI benefits, so why should the parent feel belittled when he or she tried to work with the trustee on behalf of the child? In each of these cases, the trustee was a bank or other financial institution which was not well-suited to dealing with families.
This problem was alleviated when I discovered the Commonwealth Community Trust (CCT) and other non-profit organizations like it that adminster pooled special needs trusts. The big difference, in my experience, was the trustees were now trained social workers who empathized with the family. That's not to say that the money is managed by social workers. In the case of CCT, it is managed by the Trust Company of Virginia, a well-established financial institution. The families, however, deal directly with the social workers."
Michael Phelan, Attorney See full article
"I just wanted you to know how helpful the services of the Commonwealth Community Trust (CCT) have been to so many clients of my law firm. With the two different special needs trusts (one for family members to use and the pooled disability trust for self-settled funds), CCT provides a great alternative for families who don't want to use other family members as Trustees, for any number of reasons. The expertise of the CCT staff, in conjunction with the Trust Company of Virginia (TCVA), in handling disbursements and reporting requirements, as well as TCVA's expertise in managing trust investments, provides peace of mind for many families.
"I know that other professionals are finding out about the benefits of CCT and recommending it to their clients as well."
Carolyn A.H. Bourdow, Attorney
Bourdow, Bowen & Ellis, P.C.
Midlothian, VA
"I would like to recommend the Commonwealth Community Trust wholeheartedly for those seeking safe and cost effective trust services. CCT is particularly appropriate to protect clients who have a need to maintain Medicaid and other income dependent benefits. I have personally used the Commonwealth Community Trust to receive settlement proceeds of disabled, personal injury clients who had a need to maintain Medicaid and other income dependent benefits. Commonwealth Community Trust is particularly effective for clients who receive less than overwhelming settlements and for whom an individual trust may be unavailable or cost prohibitive.
"The Commonwealth Community Trust has an added benefit of being organized and run in a very client friendly and sympathetic fashion. The impetus behind CCT remains the parents of disabled persons and other Advocates. It therefore has a human face and approach missing in many banks and trust companies. Actual investment decisions are nonetheless handled by one of the best and most trusted trust companies in the state, the Trust Company of Virginia."
Stephen W. Bricker, Attorney
Bricker and Herring
Richmond, VA
"The staff at CCT is extremely knowledgeable about the detailed requirements imposed by the Social Security Administration and the Departments of Social Services for beneficiaries receiving these benefits. The transition to CCT has been comfortable and seamless for my clients. What a great and inexpensive way for clients to maintain their benefits."
Karen E. Dunivan, Attorney
Thompson & McMullan, P.C.
100 Shockoe Slip
Richmond, VA 23219
"During my 17 years leading a statewide organization serving people with disabilities I have been involved with many issues, but none as emotionally charged as the question no caregiver ever wants to think about - 'What will happen when I am gone?' I am also the parent of a child with severe disabilities and know that pain of even thinking about a time when I won't be around to take care of her. I also understand that it is in her best interest to make plans for the future. With CCT I know there is a way to ensure that her financial future will be well managed and that they will provide the financial guidance she will need."
Harry Weinstock, MSW
Richmond, VA
Participant Testimonials
"The family would like to thank you and your exceptional staff for the continued support over the years and especially your attention to detail. We were a very involved family in every aspect of [the beneficiary's] care and it helped to have a partner that was proactive in assisting us, sometimes on very short notice." -- The Damminger Family, Ashburn, VA
"We are not only supporters of the Commonwealth Community Trust, but our son, and therefore our family, is a client as well. While all parents want their children's futures to be as bright as possible, it is even more worrisome and important when the child has a disability. By creating a Special Needs Trust for our son with Down Syndrome, not only have we helped to ensure more opportunities for him after we are gone, we have also not made him a significant financial burden for his siblings and relatives. CCT has made the future brighter for everyone in our family." -- Harry and Cynthia Gewanter, Richmond, VA
"Thank you for all your care. I'm so grateful for the Commonwealth Community Trust. It has provided for my needs that otherwise would not have been met." --Virginia Beach, VA
"Thank you for all of your time and patience. My son will be better cared for due to your time and dedication." --Newport News, VA
"Thank you for your assistance with the trust fund for the past several years. I have been delighted with the level of customer service that I have received and the very personal attention that you have given to each transaction. I also appreciate your emotional support during some difficult times. Thank you again and may God bless you and the other families that you are helping." --Newport News, VA
"Service is excellent!" --Chesapeake, VA
"You're doing an excellent job." --Urbana, VA
"After the last Trustee, it has been a pleasure working with the Commonwealth Community Trust." --Harrisonburg, VA
"CCT has been a blessing. Help is just a phone call away. When I don't understand something, you are always respectful when you explain it." --Staunton, VA
"We have found our relationship to be quite satisfactory and are pleased to have found your organization." --Lynchburg, VA
"I am very pleased with the service I've received from CCT. Both Joanne Marcus and Lisa Hessberg have been very kind and efficient. Their helpfulness has been wonderful." --Charlottesville, VA
"Service has always been good. My client is well-supported." --Case Manager, Ashland, VA
"My experience with CCT has always been pleasant." --Norfolk, VA
"Good service!! And advice on information on any claim that would interfere with Trustee benefits." --Roanoke, VA
"I am extremely pleased with the great services I have received from Commonwealth Community Trust. Also, Joanne Marcus has been very polite and helpful in every way. I will highly recommend your organization to all my friends." --Arlington, VA
