This event supported the “Bleeding Blue for Good” initiative while supporting the South End Boys & Girls Club
Hartford HealthCare and the UConn men’s basketball team played ball last Sunday for a good cause.
“Today we’re here to give back to the Boys & Girls Clubs here in Hartford,” said Ashley Battle, former UConn women’s basketball player. “It’s a great organization to support, and they’ve done a great job in the area.”
The event supported the “Bleeding Blue for Good” initiative while scoring big with the South End Boys & Girls Club in a fun, interactive basketball clinic.
“Bleeding Blue for Good” is a non-profit collective aimed at creating opportunities for athletes in various sports. The goal is to create a new way for student athletes to earn NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) money.
The UConn players held a meet-and-greet and an autograph signing for the kids who came out to the clinic. Youngsters, along with their families, had the chance to visit with Hartford HealthCare’s Neighborhood Health team and receive flu vaccines and wellness screenings.
“Not only are we doing a basketball clinic, we’re also doing a health clinic for parents and guardians who came as well, so this is a phenomenal day and the preparation has been phenomenal,” said Sam Gray, president of the South End Boys & Girls Club.
Kelly Toth, system clinical director of Neighborhood Health, shared how Hartford HealthCare offers wellness support all over Connecticut. This past Sunday, Toth and her team set up a makeshift clinic inside the Boys & Girls Club.
“We offered blood pressure screenings, tested for blood sugars, and offered booster and flu shots,” Toth said. “We also gave a couple flu shots and boosters to the Boys & Girls staff.”
This event is just one example of the ways Hartford HealthCare is improving community health. Toth shared how the Neighborhood Health initiative works every day to care for those who need it.
“We do regular clinics, Monday through Friday, and sometimes we’ll do weekend events,” Toth said. “We do community events and — depending on what the request is — we offer a variety of services.”