MONROE — The theme of the 2024 Regional Hospice Newtown Giving Circle Breakfast was “It Takes A Village.” As Regional Hospice President and CEO ToniAnn Marchione said, the theme resonated with many in the room that morning because “that’s how we work at Regional Hospice.”

The ballroom of The Waterview was again filled for the 33rd annual Newtown Giving event. With three-plus decades of presentations, the event runs like clockwork, with everything from welcome remarks, a blessing and breakfast to guest speakers, announcements and presentations, and the raffling of multiple items all done within 90 minutes. Donors and guests are promised they will be on the road at 9 am, and organizers have rarely missed that time line.

This year’s fundraiser, presented November 7, included an early announcement by Regional Hospice Managing Director of Philanthropy Jen Matlack, who in welcoming attendees said over $1 million has been raised through the breakfast fundraisers.

Marchione spoke next, and said the town of Newtown “has been an incredible partner and supporter. Donations, sponsorships and volunteer time all help us provide compassionate end of life care.”

Marchione invited all Regional Hospice staff and volunteers to stand and be recognized. She also announced the Danbury-based facility will continue to expand its pediatric care.

“This has already been underway for 18 months, and we plan to expand even further for the next two years,” she said. “This will help us close a critical gap in our pediatric services.”

Newtown Congregational Church Senior Pastor Matt Crebbin offered the blessing. Sharing that his father was in hospice care for the final 18 months of his life, Crebbin said he knew that many were in the room because they had experienced “the transformative reality of hospice.”

Calling it “the most underutilized service available to families,” Crebbin encouraged the room to be advocates for hospice services.

“It can make a huge difference for everyone. We really have an opportunity to be promoters of the work of hospice,” he said before offering a blessing.

Impact Speaker Kelly Albrecht

Newtown resident Kelly Albrecht was this year’s Impact Speaker. The mother of three said soon after she and her husband moved to town in 2009, it was at the invitation of a neighbor that she volunteered at a Regional Hospice golf tournament. The neighbor was Barb Patrick, who now works as the manager of marketing, communications & volunteers from Regional Hospice.

The Albrecht children joined a Regional Hospice youth group, she said, and then she became more involved with the nonprofit organization.

Eighteen months ago the Albrecht family learned of the clinical side of Regional Hospice, she shared, when her mother, Dorothy Graves, was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy (MSA). The disease is a progressive disease that affects the nervous system and brain.

With her sister, husband and children at a nearby table, Albrecht said it was her honor to share the story of Dorothy Graves, “the ultimate caregiver whose generosity surpassed the norm.”

The family did everything they could to keep Graves happy and comfortable for as long as they could, but admittedly “felt concern about raising the subject of hospice. We didn’t want her to think we had given up on her,” Albrecht shared. Instead, Graves was open to the discussion, which in turn gave her family “immense relief.”

The family’s concerns “were put to ease with our care team,” she added. “Knowing mom had all of your eyes on her when we couldn’t be with her, we thank you all for this,” she said, looking toward the members of the care team who were also in attendance Thursday morning.

“Your guidance through our journey, and checking in after our loss, our family is truly blessed to have had Regional Hospice during our time of loss,” Albrecht said.

Again addressing the room, she gently broached the reason for the morning.

“I kindly ask you to make a donation to help,” she said.

The breakfast events raise funds through the sponsorship of tables and tips left by guests. Additional funds were raised last week through the raffle of 30 themed baskets and the purchase of paper hearts to be added to a Wall of Hope. The latter was a new offering this year, and served as a growing backdrop to the morning’s speakers.

One lucky attendee also went home with a framed print of “Blue Skies Over Newtown,” the painting by Jim Chillington that also served as the cover art for the event program book.

All funds benefit Regional Hospice. The November 7 program booklet listed current members of Newtown Giving Circle as Beth Adams, Kelly Conte, Gail Diminico, Beth Groonell, Mary Ann Jacob, Beth O’Keefe, Mary Ellen Ryer, and Julie Schwartz.

Seven Honorees

Local supporters were also highlighted Thursday morning. Barb Patrick introduced the honorees, offering brief descriptions of each before inviting them to join her at the podium to receive a gift.

The honorees, Marchione noted in her program notes, were “just a sampling of all of the many local residents, businesses and organizations who so generously support Regional Hospice, day in and day out — year after year.”

Dolores and James White were introduced first. The longtime Newtown couple were unable to attend the fundraiser, but Patrick noted their years of support for Regional Hospice.

The Whites’ youngest son Jeff had benefitted from hospice in the final stage of his short life. An award-winning journalist, Jeff White reported from 15 countries — including two years as a reporter for this newspaper — and battled cancer for a few years before dying at the home of his parents in June 2009. He was 32.

The support by his parents has included being the first to donate to Regional Hospice Home, the 36,000-square-foot residential facility constructed in Danbury, and financing of The Jeffrey B. White Memorial Library.

The Whites continue to support the center, Patrick noted, most recently donating a library cart that will allow the easy movement of materials including books and magazines between the library and the rooms of patients.

Dan Rosenthal, the former first selectman and now a first VP of community and government relations officer with Newtown Savings Bank, was thanked by Patrick “for everything you’ve done over the years.

“You’ve always been such a supporter of Regional Hospice, and we are deeply grateful for all that you have done,” she said.

Current First Selectman Jeff Capeci is continuing the tradition of strong local support, Patrick said.

“Newtown is our most generous town grantor. Thank you for that,” she added.

Ingersoll Automotive CEO Todd Ingersoll, who was also unable to attend, “is an amazing person, a lovely human being, and one of the most generous people I know.”

Regional Hospice nurses, Patrick noted, often travel to their patients in vehicles provided by Ingersoll Auto.

Newtown Lions Club “is one of many charitable organizations in town, with a high level of sustained generosity,” Patrick said. “They have five areas of need, including childhood cancer, which speaks to our pediatric services.”

This newspaper was also an honoree, with Patrick calling The Newtown Bee “an institution in our town. The Bee has been very generous to us, covering our information, events, and regularly getting the word out.”

Ryan Patrick, a Regional Hospice youth supporter, was the final honoree. A graphic designer and brand strategist for the Boston Red Sox, Patrick was 12 years old when he was so moved by what happened on 12/14 that the next day he began “frantically designing a wristband on his computer,” his proud mother said, “because he wanted to do something to help the families.”

Ryan eventually sold 8,000 wristbands and then, with friends, formed KIDO, or Kids In Deed Organization. KIDO did grassroots fundraising and raised $50,000 with the intent of further helping the families of the Sandy Hook School victims.

“If you ever come to the center, I invite you to see the playground they built with that money,” Patrick said. “We told our kids ‘Look to the helpers,’ and they did, and they’ve continued.”

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.