Hospital Plans 11th Annual Day To Make A Difference

DANBURY — The Danbury Hospital Development Fund, Inc invites the public to attend the 11th Annual A Day to Make A Difference fundraising auction on Friday, September 10, at 6 pm. This year’s event takes place at the Ethan Allen Hotel, 21 Lake Avenue, and will benefit the Danbury Hospital Pediatric Subspecialty Programs.

This year’s theme “The Building Blocks for Tomorrow Begin Today” reflects the Danbury Hospital Department of Pediatrics’ plan to enhance its pediatric subspecialty programs so that families will not have to travel outside the greater Danbury area in order to receive comprehensive pediatric subspecialty health care.

“Children in our community deserve ready access to treatment by qualified pediatric subspecialists. We plan to develop a responsive program that involves full-time physician subspecialists and others who will have a part-time practice at Danbury Hospital,” said Eitan Kilchevsky, MD, attending neonatologist and chief of the hospital’s Pediatric Subspecialty Program.

“While Danbury Hospital has maintained some full-time and part-time subspecialists on staff for many years, other subspecialist services are still needed, including pediatric gastroenterologists [dealing with intestinal problems and nutrition], pediatric endocrinologists [dealing with hormonal problems], developmentalists, geneticists, and pediatric infectious disease specialists, so that children have access to the same diversified health care services that are available to families in larger urban communities,” said Dr Kilchevsky, who is a Newtown resident.

The 11th Annual A Day To Make A Difference auction also features cocktails and an array of hearty hors d’oeuvres starting at 6 pm, a silent auction from 6 to 7:45, followed by the Heart of Gold Award presentation.

Retired Newtown pediatrician Humberto Bauta, MD, is the event’s honorary chairman, and Iris Batson of Redding and Laurie Kilchevsky of Newtown serve as this year’s cochairmen. Ann Hines, MD, founder of the Hanahoe Memorial Children’s Clinic in downtown Danbury, is the 2004 recipient of the Heart of Gold award in honor of her more than 30 years of selfless and devoted caring for children. Introduced in 2003, the Heart of Gold Award pays tribute to an individual or individuals that work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of children.

A live auction immediately follows the award presentation at 8 pm. A donation of $75 per person is required to attend. Patron, sponsor, and benefactor sponsorships also are available.

A Day To Make A Difference guests will have a chance to bid on items such as vacation getaways, artwork, tickets to sporting events, jewelry, theater packages, gift baskets, and much more. Auction items are generously donated by local businesses and loyal supporters who are committed to helping Danbury Hospital continue its achievements in the health care and safety of children.

Susan Kania, director of development at Danbury Hospital, is working closely with an enthusiastic group of committee volunteers to create an evening that promises to be entertaining and full of fun for all the guests.

“The children of today are the leaders, caregivers, and parents of tomorrow. All deserve the opportunity to have their particular health care needs addressed within their community,” she said. “Over the last ten years, proceeds from this important fundraiser have helped fund important pediatric programs and services, making quality health care available to all children. This year’s auction continues that tradition and enables Danbury Hospital to enhance its already outstanding reputation for pediatric health care.”

“The community continues to embrace this event ever since its inauguration in 1994,” said A Day To Make A Difference cochairman Iris Batson. “We are conducting the event at the Ethan Allen Hotel this year because they are a strong supporter of our community, and as I have come to discover, children love to build, thus, this year’s theme ‘The Building Blocks for Tomorrow Begin Today.’”

Funds raised as a result of this annual event helped fund antismoking programs for adolescents, pediatric asthma screenings, the Wellness on Wheels (WOW) Program (mobile health clinic), The Center for Child & Adolescent Services (focusing on psychiatric and substance abuse issues), and a variety of pediatric continuing education programs.

For more information, to obtain tickets, or to donate an item for the 11th Annual A Day To Make A Difference fundraising auction, call the Danbury Hospital Development Fund at 797-7354.