Hartford, Conn. (Nov. 13, 2026) – United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and FOX61 honored individuals, organizations and companies who are making a significant contribution to health care, housing, financial empowerment and education in Connecticut at the 4th Annual ImpaCT Awards ceremony celebrated at Hartford Marriott Downtown. During the event, Robert E. Patricelli, Connecticut native and Hartford–raised executive, received this year’s George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest recognition given at the ImpaCT Awards.
The categories and award recipients are as follows:
George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement Award: An individual who has dedicated their life to service with the goal of making futures brighter for generations to come. The award is named in honor of the late George Bahamonde, who served as the President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut for 12 years and was passionate about educational outcomes and opportunities for local children.
Robert E. Patricelli, Philanthropist and Strategic Advisor at InTandem Capital Partners
Unsung Hero Award: A person giving their all to their community in quiet and often thankless ways who may not be known outside of their community.
Jonpaul Rivera, CT Beds
Impactful Woman Award: A female leader whose mission is to help and empower other women, a true mentor and has dynamic energy and drive.
Sana Cotten, Unashamed, Inc.
Impactful Emerging Leader Award: An up-and-coming changemaker on the fast track to leadership with a proven record of giving back.
Taylor Cicciarella, Student
Impactful Educator: A teacher, professor, coach or tutor who has dedicated themselves to molding young minds.
Mike Festi, Eli Terry Elementary School (South Windsor)
Impactful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: This award is given to an individual or a company that has a demonstrated track record of helping or working with minority communities here in Connecticut.
Connecticut Teacher Residency Program (CREC)
Community Organization Making an Impact Award: A grassroots community group that goes above and beyond to improve their surroundings and help others.
Miracle 8 Foundation
Small Business Making an Impact: A small business that makes giving back to Connecticut part of its culture. This small business, with fewer than 100 employees, is innovative and helps create a better Connecticut.
East Coast Training Systems
Company Making an Impact Award: A company that makes giving back to Connecticut part of its culture that invests resources into volunteerism and philanthropy, creating a place to work that allows employees a chance to do good along the way.
Mintz + Hoke
“We are incredibly inspired by the winners, finalists, and nominees of the 4th Annual Impact Awards. Their dedication and leadership are helping to build a stronger Connecticut,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “We are particularly excited to honor Robert “Bob” Patricelli with the George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement Award and to highlight our shared commitment to end poverty. A true leader, Bob’s tremendous impact on Hartford’s students and women’s health care will be felt for years to come.”
More than 200 nominations were received for the 2026 ImpaCT Awards. An impartial panel of judges comprised of FOX61 and United Way staff and volunteers determined the winners.
“Every winner, finalist and nominee recognized through United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut’s 4th Annual Impact Awards is an inspiration. Their dedication to our communities has moved me personally to think about how I can do more, and it challenges all of us at FOX61 to get more involved in addressing the problems our neighbors face. We want to help tell these stories and be part of the solution. I’m proud of this partnership and look forward to growing it each year as we turn that inspiration into action,” Chris Topf, President and General Manager, FOX61.
The 4th Annual ImpaCT Awards raised awareness and funds for United Way-supported initiatives that help end poverty by closing gaps in child literacy, wages, housing and life expectancy. Event sponsors included: The Robert & Margaret Patricelli Family Foundation, Inc. as Philanthropy Sponsor; Barnes Aerospace as Gold Sponsor; Actual Meds Corporation, CFZ Pediatric Therapy, Greater Hartford Gives Foundation, Hoffman Auto Group, Mintz + Hoke, The Modern Woman, Reynolds’ Subaru and Women’s Health Connecticut as Silver Sponsors; Minuteman Press as Centerpiece Sponsor; and, New Horizons Village as Photobooth Sponsor.
The awards ceremony will air as a special one-hour broadcast on Nov. 12, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., on FOX61 WTIC-TV and stream on FOX61+.
About United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
United Way mobilizes resources and aligns strategic partners to end poverty in the 860 region by closing gaps in child literacy, housing, wages and life expectancy with the goal of a region where there are equal opportunities for everyone to succeed. For more information, visit unitedwayinc.org.
About FOX61
FOX61, Connecticut’s News Station, is one of the nation’s most highly rated FOX Network affiliates, providing Connecticut viewers with outstanding entertainment, news, sports and local event programming. FOX61 News is the market leader in news, producing more news and winning more awards than any station in Connecticut. FOX61 now airs more than 61 hours of local news and public affairs programming each week, more than any other market station and provides 24 x 7 live streamed content on FOX61+, available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
CW20, one of the top performing CW network affiliates in the U.S., delivers the best in off network and first-run syndicated programming, movies and sports. The station is home to the Connecticut Lottery drawings and broadcasts major community events and sports including New York Mets Baseball, UConn Football and UConn Baseball.
FOX61 and CW20 are owned by TEGNA Inc. (NYSE: TGNA), an innovative media company that owns and operates 64 television stations in 51 markets. For more information, please visit www.fox61.com.
Media Contact: Anyeline Céspedes López | United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut | acespedes@unitedwayinc.org | 787.502.0436