Wheeler Honors Donors for Supporting Basic Needs for Patients, Addiction Services, Community Health in Pandemic

Five organizations and individuals were recognized by Wheeler for outstanding support of its mission at the organization’s 10th Annual Hands & Hearts event, held virtually this year on December 16.

This event honors individuals and families, corporations, and foundations for helping Wheeler to provide equitable access to innovative care that improves health, recovery, and growth at all stages of life. Wheeler has recognized more than 60 philanthropists since the inception of this event.

“We are extremely grateful to this year’s recipients, all of whom have contributed to our mission in an impactful way,” said Sabrina Trocchi, PhD, MPA, president and chief executive officer, Wheeler. “This past year has been especially challenging, and our honorees have generously and flexibly risen to these challenges, strengthening our ability to deliver essential services, from addiction treatment, to basic needs items, including food, clothing, transportation, and more. Without the help of our 2020 Hands and Hearts recipients—and all of our donors—we would not be able to meet the needs of the more than 50,000 individuals we serve annually.”

The 2020 Hands & Hearts Appreciation Award recipients were:

• American Savings Foundation of New Britain for a grant award, which Wheeler was able to match 1:1, to purchase and provide naloxone (NARCAN®) for distribution through its Family Health & Wellness Center in Waterbury. Used with medication-assisted treatment for addiction (MAT), individual and group therapies, and integrated primary care provided, NARCAN can reverse overdoses and is a vital tool for individuals and families who come to Wheeler for addiction treatment, a key service in the organization’s continuum of care.
• Brian and Marilyn Lindsay Foundation of Avon, for support of Wheeler’s Basic Needs Fund and addiction services for the past two years, with a focus on addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.
• Pastor Christopher Walker of Unionville, who supports Wheeler’s Basic Needs Fund in memory of his late wife, Martha Walker, who worked at Wheeler.
• Jacqueline and David Mott of Canton for giving in the height of the pandemic to support Wheeler’s community health workers doing vital work. Jacqueline worked in Wheeler’s Children’s Outpatient Services as a clinician from 2004 to 2009.
• The Mott Health Ambassadors for providing more than 500 hours of service since 2016 as part of a unique corporate philanthropic partnership between Farmington-based Mott Corporation and Wheeler. Initially launched as a pilot program, this partnership has two components: 1) financial support for a full-time community health outreach worker, who engages Central Connecticut families in culturally and linguistically responsive health care services, and 2) the establishment and ongoing participation of the Mott Health Ambassadors, employees of the company who participate side by side with Wheeler staff in an array of community-based health outreach activities, including recovery walks, neighborhood health and wellness fairs and events, and community conversations about addiction, mental health and recovery, and more.