HHC’s Black & Red event raises $6M

Contributed Hartford Hospital's annual Black & Red Gala raised a record $6 million this year, thanks to a $3 million matching gift from the Tallwood Family.

Write a Comment

By David Krechevsky

The gala is called the Black & Red, but it raised a lot of green.

Hartford Hospital hosted its annual fundraiser for Hartford HealthCare’s Center for Education, Simulation & Innovation (CESI) on May 10, attracting more than 1,100 guests to The Bushnell in Hartford.

The black tie gala raised a record $6 million, hospital officials said.

Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare, kicked off the evening by celebrating organizational milestones and outlining the vision for Hartford Hospital and CESI. He also honored 25 Hartford Hospital Heroes, nominated by their colleagues for embodying Hartford HealthCare’s core values.

“Black & Red is more than a fundraiser — it’s a reflection of what makes this community so special.” Flaks said. “Every year, we come together not just to support the critically important work of Hartford Hospital, but to elevate and strengthen our community.”

Cheryl Ficara, the newly appointed president of Hartford Hospital and Hartford HealthCare’s Hartford Region and the first woman and nurse to hold the leadership role, also addressed the gathering and thanked them for their generosity.

“We are so grateful for your extraordinary philanthropic support — it represents an investment in our shared community and the future of healthcare in Connecticut,” Ficara said.

After sharing that $3 million had been raised through Black & Red, Ficara announced that a $3 million matching gift from the Tallwood Family had brought the total to $6 million for CESI.

Also during the evening, the Hartford Hospital Lifetime Achievement Award was presented for the first time to two honorees: Dr. Steven J. Shichman, executive director of CESI and physician-in-chief at the Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute, and Stephen Donahue, director of operation for CESI.

Since 1992, Black & Red has raised $35 million in support of Hartford Hospital and its programs.