Hello Connecticut!

The Travelers Championship at The TPC River Highlands June 16 – June 22, 2025. We are proud to support Birdies for Charity sponsored by Webster Bank with The Travelers Championship!  Find Hello Connecticut’s Renee DiNino on site daily in the Birdies for Charity booth attached to the mini-golf platform! Stop by and say hello and meet charities who will be joining us daily!   Karen Cook, Executive Director of Summit Adaptive Sports, Inc joined Renee DiNino to share how important these donations are to the mission!

Summit provides opportunities for athletes with disabilities to participate in outdoor sport programs for health, wellness and lifestyle enhancement.

www.summitadaptivesports.org

The Travelers Championship at The TPC River Highlands June 16 – June 22, 2025. We are proud to support Birdies for Charity sponsored by Webster Bank with The Travelers Championship!  Find Hello Connecticut’s Renee DiNino on site daily in the Birdies for Charity booth attached to the mini-golf platform! Stop by and say hello and meet charities who will be joining us daily!   Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation’s Tamar, “Tommy” Mourad joined Renee DiNino on the Hello Connecticut podcast to share how important your donations are to continue the mission of Fidelco. www.fidelco.org

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc. is dedicated to limitless potential — to ensuring people who are blind enjoy increased independence to improve their lives and the world around them. Our clients raise families, serve America in the military, and sacrifice on the battlefield. They advocate for those who are visually impaired, win gold medals as world-class athletes, educate, and more.

It takes 2 years, 15,000 hours, and $65,000 to create each life-changing guide dog. All Fidelco guide dogs are provided to clients at no cost thanks to generous support from individuals, foundations, corporations, and other organizations.

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is accredited by the International Guide Dog Federation.

Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with offices in Bloomfield, CT.

Motorist Safety Awareness Fair

Hello Connecticut’s Renee DiNino spoke with Christine Conte, who started Jena’s Way to keep the memory of her daughter Jena shining bright forever.

“In honor of National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May and in memory of our forever 23-year-old daughter, Jena Flammia, who died in a car/motorcycle collision on Route 4 in Burlington in May of 2023.  Jena was also a German Shepard owner, leaving her dog "Mercy" to me.” Said Conte 

The event is to raise awareness about the importance of road safety, the dangers of distracted driving, and the importance of safe driving practices for both motor vehicle and motorcycle operators.

Collaborating with the Town of Burlington and Burlington Volunteer Fire & Ambulance, we are coordinating a Motorist Safety Awareness Fair that will take place on May 10, 2025, from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM at the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department, located at 719 George Washington Turnpike, Burlington, CT.

Held during Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, this event is dedicated to honoring lives lost on Connecticut roadways and educating the public on how we can all contribute to safer streets. At the heart of the event is the Traveling Memorial Wall for Fallen Bikers, a moving tribute that reminds us why road safety matters.

The day will feature live music, food trucks, and local vendors, along with interactive safety demonstrations, emergency vehicle displays, and appearances from community organizations and first responders. Guests can enjoy activities for all ages, connect with neighbors, and learn life-saving information about driving, riding, and pedestrian safety.

Whether you're a rider, a driver, or someone who simply believes in safer communities, this event offers a meaningful way to come together, reflect, and make a difference.

Jena’s Way is dedicated to a beautiful life who left this earth too soon, leaving our hearts to grieve her forever. These pages will help us to honor her life and spread awareness of causes that have meaning to our healing journey.

Renee DiNino speaks with Joyce Bray, founder of CT Breast Health Initiative and Race in the Park. 

JOIN THE RACE. JOIN THE CAUSE.

#CTHopeInAction The CT RACE IN THE PARK returns in-person to historic Walnut Hill Park this Mother’s Day Weekend.  The beloved annual tradition is back and better than ever!  Participants can support this great cause and be a part of the action by choosing from the 5K Run or the 4K/1 Mile Walk.

Kids are encouraged to get in on the action too and sign up for the Kids Fun Run.

-OR- Sign up for the Virtual 5k and Run/walk a 5K at your leisure and at your desired location May 9th – May 11th, post your race time and compete with supporters from around the world!
 
Sign up to join The RACE, pledge support or become a valuable sponsor and join thousands in honoring survivors, remembering loved ones, celebrating life and most importantly, raising much needed funds to advance the fight against breast cancer in Connecticut. www.ctbhi.org

Hello Connecticut host Renee DiNino caught up with Gail, a long-time Fidelco client and supporter, partnered with her fourth Fidelco guide dog, “Xylo,” in 2024. Gail lost her sight in her 20’s. She lives in Sunderland, MA with her husband, Thomas. Gail has worked for many years at UMASS-Amherst as a Senior Programmer Analyst.  She shares  her journey about all four of her guide dogs and her adventurous side too! Help support Fidelco and their mission by volunteering or donating today :www.fidelco.org

Kristen Cusato is the Director of Communications for the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut, Rhode Island Chapter & New England Research Champion.

February 3^rd marked National Women Physicians Day a salute to Elizabeth Blackwell, a British woman born on that date in 1821 who overcame years of discrimination to become the first female doctor in the United States. She championed the participation of women in the medical profession and ultimately opened her own medical college for women. We think Dr. Blackwell would be proud to know that today women make up 37% of U.S. physicians, compared to just 5% in 1970. (Information provided by HHC Health News Hub)

We were honored to speak with Dr Valeria Brutus, Regional Director of Breast Surgery, Fairfield Region - Breast Surgical Oncologist, Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute - Assistant Professor of Surgery, Netter School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University.

Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership (LEAP) is having their 30th Annual LEAP Year Event, taking place on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at the Dixwell Community (Q) House in New Haven, CT. This year's event will begin with a reception at the Q House, where we will honor Ann Baker Pepe and Ed Cleary, Co-Board Chairs, with the LEAP Community Leadership Award. Following the reception, guests will attend intimate dinner conversations hosted by LEAP's generous supporters.  

Hello Connecticut, the Podcast recently chatted with Sgt Mark Tappan and his K9 best friend retired K9 Mattis from the Alpharetta PD in Georgia! He is the most decorated K9 in the department’s history! These two are making a difference creating awareness for working K9’s everywhere and many other causes. His book, A Dog Named Mattis licked off their literary career and you can find his books anywhere you buy them! These two are an inspiration and we were honored to have this conversation! Like and follow them for more fun!