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.
Although the 2025 membership campaign window has closed, you can still be a part of the community by being a Contributor.
Upcoming Member Events
Experience Connecticut Children's impact through member-only events and networking opportunities.
- Thursday, May 21 | Funding Selection Event
5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Bone & Joint Institute, Hartford, CT
Join us for Connecticut Children’s Connection’s Funding Selection Event where the four research finalists will present their proposals for an opportunity to receive one of two $60,000 research awards. (Visionary & Catalyst Members only)
RSVP
- Thursday, June 11 | Membership Kickoff Reception
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Connecticut Children's New Eight-Story Clinical Tower
Enjoy an evening of cocktails, conversation, and hors d’oeuvres alongside Connecticut Children’s executives, physician-researchers, and fellow members. Hear a powerful patient story and get an inside look at how your support is driving breakthrough pediatric research—and an exclusive tour of our new eight-story clinical tower.
RSVP
Funding Selection Announcement | 2025
2026 Steering Committee Co-Chairs
Jesse Costa
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Senior Litigation Paralegal, Travelers, Co-Chair, Membership Subcommittee
Nell Acosta
Financial Services Consultant and Landscape Designer
2026 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
Membership Chair
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
President/Owner of Waverly Markets, LLC (ShopRite)
Amanda Dibble, MBA, CFP, QPFC
Annual Funding Selection Event Co-Chair
Wealth Advisor, Northstar Wealth Partners
Marcus Ferguson
AVP & Assistant General Counsel, Government Relations, The Hartford
Lianne Gabriele
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Head of eCommerce, IDEAL Industries
Sherry Gionfriddo
Grateful Parent, Gastroenterology
Executive Assistant/Human Resources Generalist, Town of Cromwell
Kimberly Gordon
Volunteer and Experience the Mission Events Co-Chair
Grateful Parent, Cardiology;
Community Volunteer
William Gray
Marketing, Communications and Education Co-Chair
Vice President, Platform Services, Citrix
Greg Hammond
Annual Funding Selection Event Co-Chair
CEO, Financial Coach, Hammond Iles Wealth Advisors
Benjamin Jensen, Esq.
Partner, Robinson & Cole, LLC
Brian Keena
Regional VP, Northeast Region Construction – Energy and Marine, Travelers
Margaret Lallier
Volunteer and Experience the Mission Events Co-Chair
Grateful Parent, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit;
Marketing and Social Media, AllWaste, Inc.
Amarpreet "Annie" Lyall
Marketing, Communications and Education Co-Chair
Associate Director, Commercial Warranty, Pratt & Whitney
Nicole MacIntosh
Catering Sales Manager, Artisan at The Delamar
Nikole McCarthy
Groups Room Manager, The Delamar
Krissy Morales
AVP, HR Strategic Services – 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
Anna Vischio, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Sharon Hospital Pathology and Laboratory Medicine/Northwell Health
Are You Ready to Connect for Our Children?
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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.