This bottle of specialty Scotch was donated by Cammie McConnell in memory of her late father Dr. John W. McConnell. Cammie and her family found support through FamilyMeans’ Caregiving & Aging group respite program after John had a stroke in his 80s. John loved spending time at FamilyMeans where he was able to be with his peers and participate in programs about history, music, art, and so much more.

 John was very proud of the McConnell’s Scottish heritage and was a leader in the local Clan Donald Society. In 2001, Minnesota hosted the Annual General Meeting of the national society, and Cammie was fortunate to win a 44-gallon cask of Scotch. The cask was kept in Glasgow, Scotland for 17 years until a bottler could be found, and since then the family has been able to transport the Scotch back to the states. There were just 36 bottles made.

John participated in our Day Out! group respite program where participants enjoy group discussions, creative projects, music, exercise, games, and fun. Day Out! allows caregivers of older adults to have a break while the person they care for spends time with FamilyMeans’ staff and volunteers in a group setting. 

This auction item is more than just a nice bottle of Scotch. It carries memories of John, his          heritage, and connection to FamilyMeans. His wish was for this bottle to bring support to a        program that helped him and his family in time of need.