Community Access

We spoke with Karen Hollis about 40 years of experience, police collaborations, and film consulting on The Conjuring.

We spoke with Nancy Morrissey and Kaiya Alexander from Senior Transportation Services about their nonprofit providing medical transportation for older adults across 6 communities. Senior Transportation Services operates with 559 volunteer drivers using personal vehicles; volunteers wait and return clients home.

We spoke with Steve and Kerry Boyle about 2-4-1 sports, Hartford Marathon Involvement, and more. 

We spoke with Joslyn DeLancey, Vice President of the Connecticut Education Association about how CEA supports educators across Connecticut and removes barriers to teaching and learning. Joslyn talked about the Holiday Bear Project that provides holiday gifts to students.

We spoke with Terri-Ann Snediker from Simsbury-Granby Rotary Club about the Simsbury River Run coming up on the 26th at the Simsbury Meadows. 

We spoke with Stacey Charpentier, Executive Director, Connecticut Community For Addiction Recovery about Recovery Walk on September 26 at Bushnell Park in Hartford. This is the 26th year of the Recovery Walk and it is open to anyone to celebrate recovery. 

We spoke with Craig Dupre and Mark Picard about Wishes on Wheels hosting a truck convoy and family fun day to support children with life-threatening medical conditions.

We spoke with Brianna Dunlap from the South Park Inn in Hartford. South Park Inn has served the community for four decades, focusing on people with substance abuse and mental health needs while serving a broad spectrum of clients.

We spoke with Jamie and Scott, who discuss Favarh's annual benefit concert that features singer and songwriter Mike DelGuidice. In Connecticut both are involved with Favar, a nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, share their personal connections and experiences. Jamie's twin brother Brandon is a Favar client, and Scott is independently employed and met...

We spoke with Margaux Hyde, Chief Communications Officer for the Root Center for Advanced Recovery, about their work and upcoming events. The Root Center, founded in 1871, offers mental health and addiction services across Connecticut with 14 sites.

We spoke with Dr. Jean Weigert and Dr. Efaza Siddiqui from Jefferson Radiology about the importance of taking care of your health and getting tests to stay ahead of any potential cancer. 

We spoke with Sarah DiMeo-Carabetta from Acts 4 Ministry about their involvement in the Birdies for Charity program at Travelers. Acts 4 Ministry, which started in 2002, provides essential items like clothing, housewares, and furniture to those in need. They have collected and redistributed over 10,000 square feet of goods. Sarah shares a personal story about a single mother and her daughters, whi...

We spoke with Perkin Simpson from Generation Power CT, formerly known as Operation Fuel. Perkin explains their mission to assist individuals with energy, fuel, water, and electricity bills, and provides education and advocacy. They experienced a record number of applications, with nearly 4,000 in nine days, leading to some being denied due to lack of funds. Generation Power CT serves all of Connec...

We spoke with Cat Clark from the Racquets for Life Foundation (RFL) about their Birdies for Charity program. RFL provides after-school and summer tennis programs for Hartford Public Schools students, including a graduation ceremony where participants receive rackets and balls. They also support individuals with disabilities, such as Asian A with cerebral palsy and a girl on the autism spectrum. Ka...

We spoke with Sarah McDonagh from the Bridgeport Rescue Mission explains their services, including a food pantry, housing programs, and addiction recovery, noting higher needs in Bridgeport compared to state averages. They also operate a free community health clinic in partnership with Sage. Sarah emphasizes the importance of breaking the stigma around addiction and invites the community to suppor...

We spoke with Megan Wells from RISP Inc., a Bloomfield-based nonprofit focused on youth development, veteran assistance, and community needs. RISP hosts tournaments across New England, raising funds for various organizations. The program emphasizes the importance of sports in building skills like communication and teamwork. They also plan to launch "Beyond the Bases," a year-round initiative to de...

We spoke with Carrie Taylor from the Windsor Historical Society about the Birdies for Charity program, which offers a 15% bonus to donations made before the Travelers Championship ends. Carrie emphasizes the relevance of local history, highlighting Windsor's status as Connecticut's first English settlement in 1633 and its ongoing history. Upcoming events include a Benjamin Franklin talk and a nati...

We spoke with Lauren Messner from the We Before Me Foundation discusses their mission to make youth hockey accessible, particularly through scholarships and an intramural program with Covenant Preparatory Academy. The foundation, founded by Duncan Fletcher, aims to provide equal opportunities for all players, including equipment, ice time, coaching, and tournament expenses. They plan a fundraiser...

We spoke with Dave Kinahan and Lauren Messner from Connecticut CASA, an organization that trains volunteers to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers, like Dave, work closely with the child, family, and other stakeholders to ensure the child's best interests are met. Donations support the training and supervision of these volunteers. CASA has over 150 active c...

We spoke with Steve Boyle about the origins of 2-4-1 Sports, a nonprofit promoting multi-sport participation, which transitioned to a nonprofit in 2021, expanding its reach significantly. They emphasize the importance of not specializing in one sport early and the benefits of social-emotional learning through sports. Steve highlights their work in underserved areas, including Baltimore and Hartfor...

We spoke with Andrew Montgomery about Sarah's Hope, a charity launched in memory of his daughter Sarah, who passed away from a rare blood cancer. Sarah's story gained attention through her TikTok updates, and the charity aims to raise $100,000 over five years, with $30,000 already raised. The charity is linked to Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund, where Sarah received treatment. An upcoming event, Ar...

We spoke with Kevin Prue from Donate Life Connecticut. Kevin explains that Donate Life Connecticut focuses on organ donation awareness and increasing registrations to save lives. He shares his personal story of receiving a liver transplant on Thanksgiving Day 2022, highlighting the quick regeneration of the liver. Kevin emphasizes the importance of awareness and fundraising, noting that Donate Lif...

We spoke with Kathryn Schubert from the Connecticut Humane Society (CHS) about their involvement in the Birdies for Charity program at the Travelers Championship. Connecticut Humane Society offers various services, including pet food assistance, free vaccine clinics, and emergency veterinary funds to help pet owners. They are currently experiencing high adoption rates, particularly for cats and ki...

We spoke with Ryan Pettengill from the Dear Jack Foundation about their focus on supporting adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer, aged 15-39, through quality of life support, mental health resources, and community building. Ryan shares his personal connection to the cause, highlighting the lack of support for AYA patients and the importance of community. The foundation uses 85% of donati...

We spoke with Steve Morris from the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford about the organization's mission to improve literacy among adults, serving 19% of Hartford's population who read at or below the second-grade level. The nonprofit, established in 1972, offers classes in English, reading, writing, and citizenship preparation, with 100-125 volunteers annually. Steve highlighted a success sto...