It takes (TOOK) a Village...AGAIN!
Tommy's Place now owns and operates TWO 10+ bedroom year-round magical vacation homes for kids fighting cancer. The homes are located in Falmouth and Centerville on Cape Cod. One family at a time, along with their extended family and friends, visits for a one week, free of charge, dream vacation to relax, make memories, and most importantly have FUN!
Tommy's Place homes are equipped with inground swimming pools, game rooms, movie theatres, home taverns, arts + crafts rooms, music rooms, chef's kitchens, and much, much more.
A magical experience for the entire family!
Since opening in Falmouth in July of 2021, and in Centerville in June of 2023, over 100 families have vacationed at one of the Tommy's Place homes! In 2024, Tommy's Place will begin to offer magical vacations to 104 families per year at its two vacation homes. Tommy's Place receives guest referrals from 10 New England children's hospitals and all families are placed through a lottery system. Guests are aged 3-17, actively being treated for pediatric cancer, and living permanently and full-time in New England.
For more information on Tommy’s Place, please email us at info@tommysplace.org call 617.249.4462 or visit Facebook, Instagram and X @tommysplacekids
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION OF BRINGING SMILES TO THE FACES OF KIDS FIGHTING CANCER!
Tim O’Connell, Founder: How it all began...
Tim O’Connell, Founder of "Tommy’s Place", had the privilege of gifting a dream Martha's Vineyard vacation to a little 8 year old boy named Grifyn and his family not too long ago.
"Little did I know at the time what an impact that it would have on the rest of my life, but way more importantly than that what an impact that it had on little Grifyn and his entire family. Sadly, Grifyn passed away shortly after his visit to Martha’s Vineyard. While we never met, we have an iron-clad bond that will never be broken. Everyone that is close to me knows Grifyn, because I have talked about him so many times over the years. That experience touched me so deeply that it is now my goal to share his story and memory with many more kids and their families fighting childhood cancer through the opening of a dream vacation home for kids battling cancer. This vacation home is being dedicated in memory of Grifyn Sawyer."
The vision
The Former Elm Arch Inn
“Tommy’s Place” will also honor another special person in Tim’s life - Tommy Leonard, founder of the world famous Falmouth Road Race. (Tommy was also a legend in the Boston Marathon community). He was a former runner, U.S. Marine, and bartender who worked in Falmouth at the hugely popular Quarterdeck Restaurant and formerly at the infamous Eliot Lounge in Boston. Tommy was most importantly known for his fun-loving spirit, positive attitude and for having a huge, loving and generous heart. “Tommy was an inspiration and has helped change my life just by being "Tommy". Orphaned in his youth, this is my way of giving Tommy the “home” that he didn't have when he was growing up - allowing his generosity and legacy to live on forever in Falmouth by "welcoming" these courageous young children and families into his “home”, free of charge, to share in some fun and laughter during some of their most challenging times. Quite frankly, in my opinion, he deserves to be honored with more than a plaque and a bench for all that he has done for the Falmouth community over the past 45 years" says O’Connell.
Sadly, Tommy passed away in early 2019 before we could have him break through the finish line tape at Tommy's Place, but we will see to it that the legacy of Tommy Leonard lives on through Tommy's Place!
The New Home of "Tommy's Place"
With the help of the local community and far beyond, the goal to restore the former Elm Arch Inn to its former glory and create an HGTV Dream Home/Walt Disney type experience for the visiting families was finally realized in July of 2021! The features 11 uniquely designed and decorated bedrooms and has interior amenities such as a chef’s kitchen, game room, board game room, home theater, music room, arts/crafts room, home tavern, and much more. The exterior of the home has a swimming pool (coming soon), basketball court, beach volleyball court, fire pit, cornhole, horseshoes, outdoor TV and even a fire truck! “Tommy’s Place” is not a sterile hospital or hotel room, it's a dream vacation “experience” that the whole family can enjoy!