With lots of spring in their step, four hundred people including veterans and government officials, filled the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury at 7:30 this morning for RVNAhealth’s 22st Annual Spring Breakfast. It was a true breakfast of champions and celebration of a nonprofit that has been an essential part of communities for 108 years!
RVNAhealth is proud to offer an enhanced continuum of care, meeting the needs of patients from birth to end of life. Now caring for more than 5,300 patients annually at all ages and stages of life, RVNAhealth provides a full spectrum of services across Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties.
A highlight of the morning was hearing firsthand the critical role RVNAhealth plays in the community. What if all of your aging parent's medical, physical and emotional needs were under one umbrella? Carefully organized, orchestrated and well communicated to the family? Meet today's powerful impact speaker, Anita Wolter McElroy who calls RVNAhealth "the glue".
Her parents are currently under the care of RVNAhealth. “It’s not just the services they offer, but how they provide those services.” With tears in her eyes, she shared the story of a dedicated and loving daughter, trying to find the best of the best for her aging parents. Her mom with is suffering from dementia and her dad with chronic cardiac issues. Calling them her "build a bear" parents she said, "If I could take my dad's mind and combine it with my mom's physical ability, I'd have one whole person."
She found what she was looking for (and then some) by way of the caring nursing staff, volunteers, and physical therapists at RVNAhealth.
Following Anita’s moving story, Allison Stockel, former Ridgefield Playhouse Executive Director, did what she does best - she pumped energy into the room with her wit and robust auctioneer skills, encouraging attendees to bid on wonderful items that promised trips to faraway lands, sporting events, exquisite dinner parties, and even exclusive tickets to see James Taylor perform at Tanglewood.
Thank you to the many local businesses and individuals who stepped up to make the morning’s raffle (there were more than 60 prizes) and live auction was hugely successful!
Government officials from several communities were in attendance supporting RVNAhealth including the First Selectmen from Washington Depot (James L. Brinton), Bethel (Dan Carter), Warren (Gregory LaCava), Sherman (Don Lowe), Ridgefield (Rudy Marconi), Roxbury (Patrick Roy) as well as Danbury Mayor Dean Esposito, State Representative Farley Santos, and State Senator Julie Kushner.
Funds raised today allow RVNAhealth to fulfill its mission of providing care when and where it is needed to residents of over 35 Connecticut towns regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances. Most importantly, it helps the organization make a lasting impact on the lives of those served. Some programs the funds will benefit include providing Well Child Clinics, flu vaccinations, and nursing and rehab care for senior citizens in need of these services.
Thank you to the hardworking Spring Breakfast committee members, table hosts and event sponsors and donors. Special thanks to MJ Heller, RVNAhealth Director of Development and Connie Marsala, Development Manager as well as RVNAhealth's amazing leader, CEO and President, Theresa Santoro. Hats off to the Amber Room for providing top-notch service with a smile at 7:30 am and Mary Jones of Rodier Flowers for the beautiful floral arrangements.
If you missed today’s breakfast and still want to show your support, please click here to make a donation.
To learn more about RVNAhealth, visit them online here.
*Photos by Deborah O'Brien