Gabriella’s 8th Annual Scoop Night, a fundraiser for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, will be held on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016.
Gabriella Giordano (front row at right) with her sister Francesca and parents Adria and David at the 7th Annual Gabriella’s Scoop Night in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Iris Photography (we-ha.com file photo)
By Ronni Newton
Gabriella Giordano has just turned 13, and now that she’s in her teens her fundraising goal for Gabriella’s Scoop Night is in its teens, too. By the end of Gabriella’s 8th Annual Scoop Night on Thursday, the King Philip Middle School eighth grader hopes to raise $15,000.
From 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, “celebrity” scoopers will be dishing out bowls of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream – plain or with a large variety of toppings – in the courtyard of Blue Back Square in West Hartford. A portion of the sale of each dish of ice cream will be donated to the state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Care Center at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
Scoopers include Gabriella’s doctors, teachers, community leaders, and representatives from local media including WFSB reporters and 96.5 TIC FM’s Gina J. In addition to the ice cream, the event’s other attractions include free and fun activities for children, door prizes, and musical entertainment by Fatgrip. Valentine the Clown is scheduled to make a special appearance.
Scoop Night follows the second day of school in West Hartford so homework load should still be light and it’s a great way to celebrate the end of summer and the upcoming Labor Day weekend.
Raising money for Connecticut Children’s, especially the cardiovascular center, is a cause that is near and dear to Gabriella’s heart – literally. Gabriella was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect before her fifth birthday and underwent successful open heart surgery at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford. According to her mother, Adria Giordano, the following year Gabriella asked if she could have an ice cream party at Ben & Jerry’s to celebrate her birthday.
One thing led to another, and in late August of 2009, the inaugural “Gabriella’s Scoop Night” was held at the Ben & Jerry’s on South Main Street in West Hartford Center. The birthday party raised $1,600 for the Division of Cardiology at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
The event is still held in celebration of Gabriella’s birthday, but has grown so large through incredible community support that last year it was moved to the courtyard of Blue Back Square. Ben & Jerry’s still co-hosts and brings the ice cream.
Since 2009, Gabriella’s Scoop Night has raised more than $30,000 in support of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.
For more information or to make a donation visit Gabriella’s 8th Annual Scoop Night Facebook page or go to www.
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