We Can’t Do What We Do Without YOU!

RVNAhealth donor giving

For 109 years, RVNAhealth has been a community-based non-profit organization that provides care for people of all ages, from birth through end of life. Today, we serve more than 5,000 people annually across 35+ Connecticut towns, with home healthcare, rehabilitation therapies, palliative and hospice care. Our donor-funded community programs for Chronic Care patients, underinsured children, and first-time, low-income mothers serve those who might not have access to care without our support. Please make a gift to RVNAhealth today and know that every gift – no matter the size – is critical to upholding our mission and sustaining our important work.

Click here to learn more about our commitment to your community and how you can donate to support those who might not otherwise have access to care

Giving Tuesday 2023 to Support RVNAhealth’s Pet Therapy Program

Pet Therapy

At RVNAhealth, we know what a difference YOU can make by supporting us on Giving Tuesday and bettering the lives of those in your community.

Sophia is RVNAhealth’s cherished pet therapy dog who spends her days with our patients and their families. Since birth, she has been in training with ECAD – Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities. Her RVNAhealth handler is formally trained and recertified annually, as well.

Sophia truly comes to life when doing her job.  With every visit, she brings comfort to our hospice patients and compassion to bereaved family members. She spreads joy to the homebound. She can also be found befriending and snuggling with children getting vaccines at our Well Child clinics. Her love and support is embraced by everyone she meets, most especially the more than 100 RVNAhealth patients she visits each year!

“Giving Tuesday reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.”

In Support of Our Pet Therapy Program

This Giving Tuesday, we are asking for your support of our priceless Pet Therapy program and to help offset $5,000 in annual expenses that keep Sophia well-nourished, well-groomed, healthy and current with veterinarian visits. Your gift to Sophia and our ComfortWELL Hospice program will help us continue to deliver unmatched, compassionate healthcare when and where it is needed.

In this season of gratitude and giving, please consider making a contribution to RVNAhealth on Giving Tuesday, November 28, 2023, and give the gift of health, comfort and peace to the patients and families we serve.

Contributions can be made here.

Thank you for your support!

Have You Seen Us? Thank You to Fairfield County Bank for the Billboard Space!

Thank you to Fairfield County Bank for donation of their billboard space to RVNAhealth

Thank you to Fairfield County Bank for generously donating time on their billboard space again. Next time you are traveling on I95 South past Norwalk, be sure to look up!  The Bank has been a loyal supporter of RVNAhealth for more than 25 years. Use of this billboard is another example of the many ways in which the Bank partners with RVNAhealth to support and help expand our services in the region.

RVNAhealth’s success has been gratefully supported over the years by the steadfast assistance by Fairfield County Bank, its dedicated staff, and board members. From financial services, insurance, and investments to invaluable counsel, guidance, and tireless volunteer efforts, Fairfield County Bank’s influence on RVNAhealth has been beyond measure. They are genuine allies and collaborators of our organization, and we deeply appreciate their unwavering dedication to our support of the well-being of the communities we serve.

Thank you Fairfield County Bank!

A Celebration of Health, Wellness, and Friendship at the 2023 Autumn Dinner

On September 30th, RVNAhealth held its annual Autumn Dinner at Silver Spring Country Club. Great fun was had by all, enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, scotch tasting, dinner, our amazing “Date Night for a Year” raffle, an exciting live auction, and heartwarming generosity in support of our vital programs and services. We are proud to offer home health and hospice care, Well-Child Clinics for children and families in need, and our Chronic Care program to help vulnerable uninsured and underinsured neighbors.

Jeanette Rizzo, this year’s impact speaker, shared a personal story about how RVNAhealth was “without a doubt, the best decision” she made when choosing health and home care for her mother. Her story highlights the very special bond that was created between her family and her mother’s RVNAhealth caregiver – a relationship which reflects the experience RVNAhealth strives to create for every patient and family member in their care.

Theresa Santoro, the President & CEO, delivered an inspiring address, underscoring RVNAhealth’s mission and both its commitment to and profound role it plays in the community’s well-being.

RVNAhealth serves a diverse range of people across 35+ Connecticut communities, from uninsured children to those in need of sports medicine, to elderly individuals with varying medical requirements, and those requiring end-of-life care. Mrs. Santoro highlighted the organization’s broad-reaching impact and its commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all.

The evening’s program included a scotch tasting sponsored by Compass Box Whiskey, live musical entertainment by singer/songwriter Nick DePuy, and autumnal centerpieces generously donated by Mary Jones at Rodier Flowers. The charismatic Tom Pesce guided guests through an engaging live auction and paddle raise to raise funds in support of RVNAhealth’s mission.

On behalf of the Board of Directors and the dedicated RVNAhealth staff, we extend our deepest gratitude to Jeanette Rizzo for her valuable contributions as the evening’s guest speaker, our sponsors and advertisers for their unwavering support, and every member of the Autumn Dinner committee for their tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and dedication in planning and organizing this unforgettable event.

Celebrate and Support RVNAhealth at Autumn Dinner 2023

RVNAhealth Autumn Dinner 2023

RVNAhealth will host its annual Autumn Dinner on Saturday evening, September 30 at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, CT. The Board of Directors, Autumn Dinner Committee, and friends of the organization look forward to celebrating the meaningful work of RVNAhealth and the continuum of care the agency provides throughout 35+ Connecticut communities.

Guests will enjoy evening cocktails and live music by Nick DePuy on the patio, bourbon tasting sponsored by Ancona’s Wines & Liquors, and dinner. A live auction hosted by entertainer, Tom Pesce, will include spectacular prizes, including tickets to a NY Giants game in a fully catered suite, a Loon Mountain ski vacation package, dinner for 8 catered by renowned local chefs Sarah and Bernard Bouissou and more!

Our ever-popular “Date Night for a Year” raffle is back! The always exciting date nights include a spa experience for two at Adam Broderick Salon & Spa, ACT of Connecticut and Danbury Hat Tricks tickets, and gift certificates to fabulous area shops, inns, and restaurants from Ridgefield to Litchfield, to name just a few!

The evening is hosted in support of RVNAhealth’s home health and hospice care, and the agency’s mission-driven public health services and wellness programs. This year’s impact speaker will be Jeanette Rizzo, who will share a personal story about how RVNAhealth was “without a doubt, the best decision” she made when choosing health and home care for her mother. Her story includes the very special bond that was created between her family and the RVNAhealth caregiver who was honored to attend Jeanette’s daughter’s wedding even though her mother passed prior to the event. This relationship reflects the experience RVNAhealth strives to create for every patient and family member in their care.

We would like to provide a tremendous thank you our sponsors, including:

  • Presenting Sponsor: Bill Lichtenberger
  • Diamond Sponsors: The Bossidy Foundation, Fairfield County Bank, Joseph and Shelley O’Connor, Eileen and Jay Walker
  • Platinum Sponsors: Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC, Robert H. Martinsen, Mutual of America
  • Gold Sponsors: BMW of Ridgefield, Cramer & Anderson, LLP, The Donnelly Family, Liz and Steven Goldstone, Starr and Harvey Herscovitch, Christopher and Mary Joyce, Meadow Ridge, Reynolds & Rowella, LLP, Savings Bank of Danbury, SimiTree Healthcare Consulting, Wilton Meadows and The Greens at Cannondale
  • Silver Sponsors: Adam Broderick Salon & Spa, John and Lori Berisford, Jill Bornstein/Upnext Leadership Coaching, Gaetano Castellano, Kevin and Elaine Cox, Anita and Nick Donofrio, Elizabeth Murray Ellis, Hamlet Hub, Adam and Glori Norwitt, Dan and Annette O’Brien, On the Mend Medical Supplies & Equipment, Donna and Joe Pastore/Pastore LLC, John and Joanne Patrick, Thomas and Michele Quindlen, Ridgebury Riders, Rodier Flowers, Union Savings Bank, Peter and Lisa Vanderminden, Barbara and William Wyman, Young’s of Ridgefield.

If you are interested in supporting the RVNAhealth Autumn Dinner, you may purchase sponsorships, program book advertising, or tickets at RVNAhealth.org.  If you would like more information, please contact Debbie Campbell at 203.438.5555, x1249 or dcampbell@rvnahealth.org.

You Are Invited to Help Make a Difference!

The RVNAhealth Board of Directors, Leadership Team, and the Autumn Dinner Committee invite you to join us at the annual RVNAhealth Autumn Dinner on September 30th. The event, filled with fun and celebration of the meaningful impact RVNAhealth has on the communities it serves, will be held at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, CT.

You can make a difference by sharing in this opportunity to raise critical funds to support our home health and hospice care and sustain the mission-driven public health services and wellness programs we provide across 35+ Connecticut communities.

The evening will include cocktails on the patio with live music by Nick DePuy, bourbon tasting sponsored by Ancona’s Wines & Liquors, an impact speaker, gourmet dinner, our back-by-popular-demand “Date Night for a Year” raffle, fabulous live auction items, and more. Please see our 2022 Autumn Dinner recap and photo gallery here for a taste of the great evening that awaits you!

Tickets, Sponsorships, and Ads are available.  Click here to learn more about the many ways you can have an impact in supporting our mission and your community.

To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jennifer Christensen, Donor Engagement Officer, at 203.438.5555 x1052 or via email at jchristensen@RVNAhealth.org.

We look forward to seeing you on September 30!

Thank You for a Successful 2023 Spring Breakfast

At the RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast, the early bird was treated to quiche, coffee, convivial conversation, and possibly even a trip to Africa.  

It’s amazing what 400 people can accomplish before 9:00am on a Friday morning. In 90 minutes on April 28th, the annual RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast raised $138,000 to support our programs and mission. And there were a lot of happy prize winners!

With lots of spring in their step, area business professionals, physicians, veterans, RVNAhealth supporters and staff filled the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury at 7:30am.  Government officials from several communities were also in attendance, 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.

A highlight of the morning was hearing firsthand the critical role RVNAhealth plays in the community, offering an enhanced continuum of care and meeting the needs of patients from birth to end-of-life.  Impact speaker, Anita Wolter McElroy, could not have been more powerful, as she shared her heartfelt story as a dedicated and loving daughter, trying to find the best of care for her aging parents. She found it in RVNAhealth, where her family’s medical, physical, and emotional needs are being met under one umbrella – always carefully organized, orchestrated, and well communicated. Referring to RVNAhealth as “the glue,” she shared, “It’s not just the services they offer, but how they provide those services.”

Many, many thanks to all of our event sponsors; our gracious table hosts and guests; the local businesses who donated more than 60 raffle items; our friends at Rodier Flowers; our special speaker, Anita Wolter McElroy; our brilliant auctioneer, Allison Stockel; our extraordinary event chairpersons, Andrea Gartner and Cathy Moore, and our fabulous committee who all brought an early Friday morning to life for RVNAhealth.

If you missed the Spring Breakfast and still want to show your support, please click here to make a donation.

Thank you to Deborah O’Brien for these wonderful photos!

 

 

RVNAhealth Spring Breakfast: Community Coming Together to Care for Neighbors

 

RVNAhealth will host its 22nd Annual Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 28 at The Amber Room in Danbury. This event, co-chaired by Andrea Gartner and Cathy Moore, attracts more than 400 local residents, business owners, and community leaders in the greater Danbury area. The early morning program (7:30am – 9:00am) consists of a delicious breakfast, inspirational speaker, lively auction and raffle prizes all in support of RVNAhealth. This is a major fundraiser which helps sustain RVNAhealth’s home health and hospice care, and the vital programs we bring to our communities, including well-child services, immunization clinics, support groups, wellness programs on nutrition and disease prevention, and help for the homebound.

The agency would like to thank its sponsors, including

  • Diamond Sponsors: Larry and Nancy Bossidy, Mutual of America, Eileen and Jay Walker
  • Gold Sponsors: Adam Broderick Salon & Spa, Lori Berisford and Elaine Cox, BMW of Ridgefield, Fairfield County Bank, Liz and Steven Goldstone, Valerie Jensen, Rodier Flowers
  • Silver Sponsors: Elizabeth Murray Ellis, HamletHub, Kane Funeral Home, Meadow Ridge, Glori and Adam Norwitt
  • Bronze Sponsors: All American Waste, Base Technologies, Inc., The Chefs’ Warehouse, Chipman Mazzucco Emerson, LLC, Cohen and Wolf, P.C., Cramer & Anderson, LLP, Harriton & Furrer, LLP, Christopher and Mary Joyce, Dean and Theresa Miller, Annette and Dan O’Brien, On the Mend Medial Supplies & Equipment, Saint Joseph Parenting Center, Union Savings Bank, Upnext Leadership Coaching and The Watermark at East Hill

You may purchase a sponsorship or table online or contact Connie Marsala, Development Manager, at cmarsala@rvnahealth.org or at 203.438.5555, x1018.

 

Gather Your Friends and Join RVNAhealth’s Annual Spring Breakfast!

Click here to Sponsor a Table or Make a Donation
RVNAhealth will host its 22nd Annual Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 28 from 7:30am-9:00am at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. The Board of Directors, Spring Breakfast Committee, and friends of the organization look forward to celebrating the meaningful work of RVNAhealth and the continuum of care the agency provides throughout 35+ communities. Each year, the Spring Breakfast brings together 400 local business leaders, medical professionals, community groups, and RVNAhealth supporters to welcome spring and raise funds critical to patient care and program support. Funds raised allow RVNAhealth to care for patients and clients regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances and make a lasting impact on the lives of those served. It’s truly an inspiring morning and a great way to start the day! This year’s impact speaker is a business leader who has worked with RVNAhealth to provide care for her elderly parents. She will describe how the integrated continuum of RVNAhealth services supported her family, even as their needs changed, and she will offer useful insights for others who may be caring for aging loved ones. You are invited to become a sponsor or host a table at this year’s event, which will include a delicious breakfast, live auction with travel and entertainment packages, and a raffle with over 40 prizes. You may purchase sponsorships or tables online at RVNAhealth.org or contact Connie Marsala, Development Manager, at 203.438.5555, x1018 or cmarsala@rvnahealth.org.

Now is a Great Time to Join our Governor Society!

RVNAhealth’s Governor Society is a membership program for business and community partners who invest $1,000 or more each year in the health and well-being of their community. Governor Society support funds our Community Health & Wellness programs, such as our Chronic Care program for low-income individuals, community education, blood pressure clinics, vaccinations, and our Well-Child Clinics for underinsured children. Contributions may also support Hospice care, enabling us to provide bereavement support, music therapy, and even pet therapy – services not covered by insurance.

Governor Society membership options include event and program sponsorships, targeted gifts by service area, or unrestricted contributions to areas of greatest need.  The benefits to Governor Society Members are many, including recognition on our website, brand exposure in event materials, publicity, exclusive access to special events, and concierge services.  In customizing their philanthropic support over a 12-month period, our Governor Society members can target their giving to strengthen their communities in a way that is both meaningful to them and beneficial to their business or organizations.

For more information on RVNAhealth’s Governor Society or other ways to support RVNAhealth, contact Jennifer Christensen at jchristensen@rvnahealth.org or call 203-438-5555, x1052.

Other ways to support RVNAhealth:

Every gift—no matter the size—has a meaningful impact on our work and the communities we serve. There are many ways for businesses to support RVNAhealth:

  • Donate to RVNAhealth’s Annual Fund
  • Choose to become an event sponsor 
  • Advertise in event program books
  • Make an in-kind donation of gift certificates, event tickets, or unique experiences or services for our event auctions and raffles
  • Partner with RVNAhealth to present on a health and wellness related topic
  • Sponsor a community health and wellness program
  • Encourage your staff to volunteer with RVNAhealth

Upcoming ‘Save the Dates’:

  • March 25 – Wellness Fair, East Ridge Middle School, Ridgefield
  • April 28 – Spring Breakfast, Amber Room, Danbury
  • September 30 – Autumn Dinner, Silver Spring Country Club, Ridgefield