Newton-Wellesley Hospital Gala Raises More than $1 Million for Hospital and Community Collaborative

NEWTON, MA – Newton-Wellesley Hospital raised over $1 million at its 23^rd annual gala held at Boston’s Intercontinental Hotel earlier this month.

The money raised will support the hospital and the Community Collaborative, an initiative that expands the hospital’s services in ways that directly impact and support the local community. The collaborative serves the residents of six towns - Natick, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, and Weston.

Ellen Moloney, President & COO, of Beverly and Joan Vitello-Cicciu, PhD, Chair of the Board of Trustees, of Hudson

The collaborative focuses its funds on areas of need identified in a tri-annual community health needs assessment.  Current areas of focus include cardiovascular health, domestic and sexual abuse, elder care, maternity services, youth mental health, substance use, workforce development, and palliative care.

“The Community Collaborative is Newton-Wellesley’s unique approach to addressing the unmet health needs of our neighbors.  For our donors to support it in such a generous way, is immensely gratifying,” said Katie Connolly, vice president of development & community engagement at Newton-Wellesley. “Through our work, we bring an unrelenting focus to lessening healthcare disparities, strengthening the social fabric of support, and empowering residents to lead healthier lives.”

The initiative has supported programs that work to alleviate loneliness in elderly populations, address youth mental health challenges in local schools, support mothers experiencing postpartum depression, provide career opportunities for young people, and support cardiovascular health for firefighters – to name a few.

• Bonnie Blanchfield and Gregg Meyer, MD, President of the Community Division & Executive Vice President for Value Based Care for Mass General Brigham, of Weston and Jim and Ellen Kaplan of Weston
• Gala Co-Chairs Carol McMullen of Weston and Julie Marriott of Wellesley
• Alicia Abad of Wellesley, Lauren Lele of Sudbury and Michael Jellinek, MD of Newton

The Gala host committee was spearheaded by co-chairs Julie Marriott of Wellesley and Carol McMullen of Weston. Speakers included Dr. Gregg S. Meyer, president of Mass General Brigham’s Community Division and Executive Vice President for value based care; Joan Vitello-Cicciu, Chair of the Board of Trustees; Ellen Moloney, President & Chief Operating Officer; and Steve Sullivan, Trustee Emeritus.

• Steve Sullivan, Trustee Emeritus, of Wellesley and Ben Gomez, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, of Wellesley
• Elaine Woo, MD of Newton; Joan Wallace-Benjamin of Dedham; Paula Johnson, MD, President of Wellesley College, of Wellesley; Liz Brunner of Boston; and Kathy Kaufmann of Wellesley

To learn more about the Collaborative and hear stories about its impact, view the Gala video.