‘Love’ for the Bridge Leads to Heartfelt Support at Children’s Charity Ball
Audio By Carbonatix
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The Bridge Family Center’s Children’s Charity Ball was held Saturday night, Jan. 25, 2025, at Farmington Gardens in Farmington.
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
Following the theme of “Put a Little Love in Your Heart,” the 230 guests at the West Hartford-based Bridge Family Center’s 26th Children’s Charity Ball on Saturday night were heartfelt in their support, donating an initial estimate of $240,000 to support the organization’s mission to support children and families.
For more than a quarter of a century, the Children’s Charity Ball has been a highly-anticipated social event for the West Hartford community, and this year the event returned to Farmington Gardens in Farmington, where guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, dancing, and live, silent, and basket auctions – as well as a spirited game of “heads or tails” and a special raffle for a diamond necklace. The generous crowd, which included community and business leaders from West Hartford and the surrounding area, also raised their paddles for the “Changing Lives Challenge.” Sponsorship alone raised more than $130,000.
Heads or Tails? Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
WFSB meteorologist and co-host of “Better CT” Scot Haney returned for the 24th year as emcee and auctioneer.
Scott Haney. Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The incredible generosity of hundreds of sponsors, attendees, and donors has helped to raise well over $5 million dollars to fund the vital programs and services the Bridge offers to further their mission of supporting “Every Family. Every Child. Every Time.”
Margaret Hann, longtime executive director of The Bridge, said so many lives are touched by the services the organization provides. “I will go further than that-so many lives are saved because of the Bridge. Last year alone over 9,000 people came to us needing help,” she said in her brief address to the crowd.
Executive Director Margaret Hann. Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“The theme for the ball this year is ‘Put a Little Love in Your Heart.’ There is a quote from Mother Theresa that I feel takes this theme a step further: ‘Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love,'” Hann said, before a video showed some examples of the organization’s work with members of the community.
Rick Deurloo, president of Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines and Chief Commercial Officer, and Kate Deurloo, global senior manager of LEGO Group, were honorary chairs of this year’s Children’s Charity Ball, and thanked guests for their support. RTX was the presenting sponsor.
Katie and Rick Deurloo. Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Headquartered in West Hartford, the Bridge Family Center is “a comprehensive, regional nonprofit agency that provides a broad range of services for children and families throughout the Greater Hartford area. Founded in 1969, the Bridge offers a safe haven for children and families in crisis as well as positive, healthy intervention and prevention programs,” the website states. Services have expanded over the years and include mental health counseling, residential facilities, parent education and early childhood literacy programs, and a variety of additional programs for youth and families, many of which are school-based. The Bridge is governed by a Board of Directors, employs roughly 175 staff, and is assisted in its mission by more than 150 volunteers.
In addition the Ball, the Bridge’s budget is funded through private donations from individuals, foundations, corporations, and organizations; the Town of West Hartford; the State of Connecticut Departments of Children and Families (DCF) and Education; and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
More information can be found on the Bridge’s website.
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Bridge Family Center’s 26th annual Children’s Charity Ball. Jan. 25, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.
