We are Making a Difference Together
Connecticut Children’s Connection (CCC) is a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research—while providing meaningful opportunities to connect, contribute, and create lasting impact.
Upcoming Events
Experience Connecticut Children's impact through member-only events and networking opportunities.
Prospective Member Events
Throughout our annual membership campaign, prospective members and renewing members are invited to various venues throughout Hartford County to socialize and network with peers, physician-researchers and health system leadership.
- Tuesday, June 24, 2025 | 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. | The Delamar West Hartford: Join us for an engaging evening of conversation, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres while connecting with Connecticut Children’s leaders, physician-researchers, and fellow Connection members—and discover how your support helps advance groundbreaking research and transform care for children facing serious health challenges.
Funding Selection Announcement | 2025
Join the Membership Class of 2025 - 2026
Welcoming members during our annual membership drive, May 1 - September 30, all members receive:
- An invitation to our annual Membership Campaign Kickoff with Connecticut Children's leadership, clinicians and researchers
- Access to "Eat, Drink, Connect" social and networking opportunities at venues, such as Hops on the Hill
- Quarterly insider access e-communications
- Unique opportunity to connect with a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research.
- Additional opportunities are provided based on level of commitment.
New for 2025!
- All memberships are for individuals. Couples purchasing two memberships at the same time qualify for a $100 discount* off of each membership—just use promo code COUPLE2025 at checkout.
- Step-up memberships are available for those looking to make a meaningful commitment to incrementally increase their support while enjoying top-tier recognition from day one.
- Monthly installment payment plans are available for all membership options. Promo code discount does not apply.
*$2,500+
- Shape the future of pediatric healthcare by serving on the Funding Selection Subcommittee and choose the researchers invited to present at our Funding Selection event.
- Go behind-the-scenes with Connecticut Children’s clinicians and researchers during their daily rounds with patients.
- Hear from promising researchers and help guide how critical research funds are invested at our annual Funding Selection event.
- Be recognized for your commitment with a featured listing on the Connecticut Children’s Connection webpage.
- Experience the Mission through a lab or facilities tour or roundtable with clinicians, researchers and grateful patient families.
- Enjoy a guided tour of Connecticut Children’s with a guest.
- Connect with members and Connecticut Children's leadership, clinicians, and researchers at Campaign receptions, Eat, Drink, Connect events, and volunteer experiences.
- Go Inside the Impact through bi-annual virtual events and exclusive online viewing of our Funding Selection event.
- Be in the know with access to quarterly Insider Access e-communications.
- Join a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research.
- Individuals/couples who make a $10,000+ annual investment will be recognized as Luminary members on Connecticut Children's Connection's webpage and verbally at events.
*Registering with your partner? Use code COUPLE2025 for $200 off your combined membership. Discount applies to annual memberships paid in full and year 1 of Step-up memberships only. Monthly installment plans are not discounted.
*$1,000+
- Hear from promising researchers and help guide how critical research funds are invested at our annual Funding Selection event.
- Be recognized for your commitment with a featured listing on the Connecticut Children’s Connection webpage.
- Experience the Mission through a lab or facilities tour or roundtable with clinicians, researchers and grateful patient families.
- Enjoy a guided tour of Connecticut Children’s with a guest.
- Connect with members and Connecticut Children's leadership, clinicians, and researchers at Campaign receptions, Eat, Drink, Connect events, and volunteer experiences.
- Go Inside the Impact through bi-annual virtual events and exclusive online viewing of our Funding Selection event.
- Be in the know with access to quarterly Insider Access e-communications.
- Join a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research.
*Registering with your partner? Use code COUPLE2025 for $200 off your combined membership. Discount applies to annual memberships paid in full and year 1 of Step-up memberships only. Monthly installment plans are not discounted.
$500+
- Experience the Mission through a lab or facilities tour or roundtable with clinicians, researchers and grateful patient families.
- Enjoy a guided tour of Connecticut Children’s with a guest.
- Connect with members and Connecticut Children's leadership, clinicians, and researchers at Campaign receptions, Eat, Drink, Connect events, and volunteer experiences.
- Go Inside the Impact through bi-annual virtual events and exclusive online viewing of our Funding Selection event.
- Be in the know with access to quarterly Insider Access e-communications.
- Join a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research.
*Registering with your partner? Use code COUPLE2025 for $200 off your combined membership. Discount applies to annual memberships paid in full only; monthly installment plans are not discounted.
$250
- Be in the know with access to quarterly Insider Access e-communications.
- Join a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research.
*Registering with your partner? Use code COUPLE2025 for $200 off your combined membership. Discount applies to annual memberships paid in full only; monthly installment plans are not discounted.
Gift in any amount
- Be in the know with access to quarterly Insider Access e-communications
- Join a community of passionate individuals dedicated to transforming children’s lives by investing in cutting-edge pediatric healthcare research
Make a meaningful commitment to grow your support—and enjoy top-tier recognition from day one.
When you pledge to gradually increase your gift over three years, you’ll be recognized immediately at the committed membership level, with full access to all benefits each year. Monthly installment plans are available for Step-up Memberships.
Visionary:
- New Member - Year 1: $250* | Year 2: $500 | Year 3: $1,000
Catalyst:
- New Member - Year 1: $500* | Year 2: $1,500 | Year 3: $2,500
- Renewal Member - Year 1: $1,000* | Year 2: $1,500 | Year 3: $2,500
*Couples purchasing two memberships at the same time qualify for a $100 discount off of each membership—use promo code COUPLE2025 at checkout. Discount applies to annual memberships paid in full and year 1 of Step-up memberships only. Monthly installment plans are not discounted.
2025 Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Benjamin Jensen, Esq.
Partner, Robinson & Cole, LLC
Nell Acosta
Community Volunteer
2025 Committee Members
Leonard Banco, MD
Pediatrician and retired member of Connecticut Children’s Executive Management Team
Natalie Bezler, MD
Pediatric Oncologist, Connecticut Children’s Center for Cancers and Blood Disorders
Jesse Costa
Senior Litigation Paralegal, Travelers, Co-Chair, Membership Subcommittee
Jordan Coe
President/Owner of Waverly Markets, LLC (ShopRite)
Caitlin Collazo
Community Volunteer
Chris Collazo
Global Solution Consulting Leader, Service Now
Amanda Dibble, CFP, QPFC
Financial Advisor, Morgan Stanley, Co-Chair, Funding Selection Subcommittee
Marcus Ferguson
AVP & Assistant General Counsel, Government Relations, The Hartford
Lianne Gabriele
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
Sr. Director of eCommerce, Fortune Brands Innovations
Kimberly Gordon
Volunteer and Experience the Mission Events Co-Chair
Grateful Parent, Cardiology;
Community Volunteer
William Gray
Marketing, Communications and Education Co-Chair
Field Chief Technology Officer, Citrix
Greg Hammond
Annual Funding Selection Event Co-Chair
CEO, Financial Coach, Hammond Iles Wealth Advisors
Brian Keena
Regional VP, Northeast Region Construction – Energy and Marine, Travelers
Margaret Lallier
Membership Co-Chair
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
Marketing and Social Media, AllWaste, Inc.
Amarpreet Lyall
Marketing, Communications and Education Co-Chair
Senior Finance Manager, Pratt & Whitney
Nicole MacIntosh
Catering Sales Manager, Artisan at The Delamar
Krissy Morales
Volunteer and Experience the Mission Events Co-Chair
AVP, Strategic Planning and Execution – Bond and Specialty Insurance, Travelers
Anne Martha Pitegoff
Community Volunteer
David Rock, Esq.
Chief Claims Officer and General Counsel, Trium Cyber
Eleni Rock, Esq., RPLU
Head Of Media & Miscellaneous E&O, CapSpecialty
Luminary Members
Mr. Laurence H. Smead
Dr. Catherine B. Stevenson and Mr. Keith A. Stevenson
Are You Ready to Connect for Our Children?
Connect
Be Inspired
Impact
Why We Connect for Our Children
Ava
Ava and Isabella were born seven weeks prematurely, with Ava weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces, and Isabella weighing 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Upon their babies’ arrival, Nina and her husband were elated to learn that Isabella was fine. But, their elation quickly turned to despair when they learned Ava was having trouble. When the doctors were unable to insert a feeding tube, they learned that Ava had a life-threatening condition that required transport to a hospital with the expertise and specialists capable of fixing the problem—Connecticut Children's.

Ready for a Bright Future
Chloe was born at 32 weeks, weighing just three and a half pounds when she was delivered. She was fragile, so she was whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), but her story doesn't end there. Just before Chloe was to be discharged from the NICU, the doctor found she had a hernia that required surgery. The surgery was successful, but Chloe did not respond well to anesthesia and was having trouble breathing on her own. In the recovery room she coded multiple times. Again, she was whisked away, this time to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Happily, she recovered quickly and was able to go home with her parents two days later. Today, Chloe is happy and healthy.

An Aspiring Unicorn Whisperer
Ariella was born with a condition known as nemaline rod myopathy, a rare muscle disorder that, in its severest forms, can be life-threatening within the first few months of life. Ariella’s symptoms included muscle weakness, breathing difficulties and swallowing dysfunction. But it was her inability to gain weight as a baby that first brought her to Connecticut Children’s at four weeks of age. At 5 months of age, Ariella underwent a feeding tube surgery followed by a muscle biopsy; it was the muscle biopsy requested by Neurology that led to her diagnosis. What is miraculous to her parents, Rachel and Charles, is that their daughter survived a very dire prognosis as a baby and today is an active 9-year-old with a bright future, thanks to the specialized care she has received at Connecticut Children’s.

Leukemia Didn't Stand a Chance
Six-year-old Gavin is a Leukemia survivor who is enjoying his first year in school. He took his last dose of chemo on September 30, 2019 at the age of 4 but over the 2 and half years of treatment Gavin spent over 70 nights in the hospital, was sedated 20 times for spinal taps and chemo in his spine, had more than 60 doses of chemo in his port, two bone marrow aspirations, two blood infections, numerous platelet and blood transfusion, and more than 500 doses of oral chemo. His parents and big brother Connor, couldn’t be more excited, thankful and grateful for the love and support provided to them at Connecticut Children's.
