Why We Give
Central Region Team Doesn’t Mind Freezing for a Reason
By Brian Spyros
Karen Fasano, vice president of Patient Care Services for the Central Region, second from left in the front row, organized a large team of Central Region colleagues to help her raise funds for a cause that’s close to her heart.
Would you willingly jump into the bone-chilling water of a lake in the middle of winter for a good cause? For a large group in the Central Region, the answer is simply yes.
For the past three years, leaders and clinical colleagues from The Hospital of Central Connecticut and MidState Medical Center have taken part in the Annual Sloper Plunge organized by the Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA, raising money for local kids to go to camp.
“During the pandemic, camp became critical for children and it allowed them to socialize with others,” said Karen Fasano, vice president of Patient Care Services for the Central Region. She is familiar with Camp Sloper as her triplets attended the camp for the past 12 years.
In February, Central Region once again assembled a team of 23. Together, they raised nearly $10,000. Then for the finale, everyone gathered at Camp Sloper to jump in the frigid water. Hartford HealthCare has also served as a sponsor for the event.
“We have a very strong relationship with the YMCA and we’re providing support to a community we serve,” Fasano said. “For Hartford HealthCare, it’s also about collaboration and teamwork. Taking part in this event has done a tremendous amount of team-building. In the process, we are impacting the lives of children in a positive way.”
This year, the YMCA raised $92,000. Fasano said the goal is to continue making HHC’s participation a yearly tradition.
“We want to increase our presence, our fundraising goal, and even open it up to people outside the region. Yes, the water is cold, but it’s for a cause that warms your heart and that’s all that matters,” Fasano said.