June 4, 2024
Pictured Above (left to right): Kristen Lapenta, Associate Director of Special Events, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; Meghan Bianco, Director of Corporate and Community Partnerships, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; Carla Angevine, Manager of Community Health, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; Lynn B. Rossini, Vice President of Philanthropy, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; Bill Zampaglione, 2024 Honorary Golf Chair, VP of Real Estate, PAC Group; David Fichandler, Senior Director of Operational Coordination, Integration, and Excellence, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; John Janco, Northwest Region Board of Directors; Jeffrey Borghesi, Northwest Region Board of Directors; Bimal Patel, President, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, SVP, Hartford HealthCare; John J. Capobianco, SVP, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital; David Juros, Food is Medicine Consultant; and Debbie Bender, Director of Philanthropy, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.
On Monday, June 3, 144 golfers teed off at Torrington County Club as the community celebrated the 22nd Annual Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Golf Classic. The event raised over $200,000 with net proceeds benefitting the hospital’s Food4Health program.
Food4Health is a free service that provides food-insecure patients and caregivers with greater access to nutritious foods, as well as guidance on meal preparation tailored for diet-related illnesses—such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Charlotte Hungerford Hospital celebrated the opening of its new Food4Health Clinic in 2023, which was designed to resemble a local grocery school and offers fresh fruit, vegetables, and other health items for patients who receive a prescription from a physician. To keep the Clinic replenished, the hospital is planning to install a hydroponic rooftop garden that is projected to grow thousands of pounds of fresh produce annually.
“We believe that food is medicine and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is extremely pleased to provide another impactful resource to our community through Food4Health,” said John J. Capobianco, Senior vice president of operations, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. “Food4Health will not only help us in addressing the concerning food insecurity rates we have been tracking, but it will also improve the future of healthcare in the northwest region. Our hospital family is grateful for the significant philanthropic support we receive through this golf tournament—which allows us to continue providing the region’s best and most accessible, equitable, and compassionate care.”
“The Food4Health program exemplifies Hartford HealthCare’s commitment to fostering innovative and effective solutions that address our community’s healthcare needs,” said Debbie Bender, Director of philanthropy, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. “We are thankful to our many community partners, sponsors, colleagues, and volunteers who have made this event an annual success—and we are grateful for the leadership and contributions of our Honorary Golf Chair Bill Zampaglione of PAC Group, who has been a steadfast supporter and advocate for our hospital and mission.”
“PAC Group is proud to once again support Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and this fantastic event,” said Zampaglione. “The hospital is a critical resource for our region that continues to provide the highest quality of compassionate care. I want to thank the local community for its strong philanthropic support of our hometown hospital and congratulate the Hartford HealthCare and Charlotte Hungerford Hospital leadership, philanthropy, and Food4Health teams on another successful event that will benefit our friends, neighbors, and loved ones for years to come.”
According to a 2024 Feeding American report, one in eight Connecticut residents (468,150 residents) are facing hunger and one in six Connecticut children are food insecure (112,600 children). If you are interested in helping Charlotte Hungerford Hospital address food insecurity, please click here to make a gift to Food4Health.