In 1998, Dr. Bruce Stelmack, Medical Director at Carilion Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center founded FREE, after noticing many patients would leave the rehab only to lose the strength and abilities they worked for, simply because they didn't have right equipment. Insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, are limited to what equipment they cover and frequently patients on limited income can not afford to pick up this expense, if they have coverage at all. Therefore, a patient may not be able to receive the equipment that would best suit his/her needs.

As a physician, it was difficult for Dr. Stelmack to watch so many people fall through the cracks. This motivated him and other community leaders to develop an organization to aid in this call for help. The Foundation for Rehabilitation Equipment and Endowment started in the local community of Roanoke and Southwestern Virginia . Currently, FREE is planning expansion throughout the state of Virginia by 2005. (See "$350,000 awarded by DRS" for expansion details.)