Fellowship Place receives donated Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) from Dragonheart Foundation

GuerreraThe Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation has donated an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to Fellowship Place’s New Haven campus facility. Fellowship Place Executive Director, Mary Guerrera, who received the device from Lauren Rossi of the Dragonheart Foundation stated “We are grateful for the Dragonheart Foundation’s commitment to building awareness about sudden cardiac deaths and how immediate access to AED’s can make a big difference in saving the life of someone in mid cardiac emergency. Our staff, who have been CPR and AED trained, will now be equipped with the lifesaving technology to react within seconds of an incident.”

According to the Dragonheart Foundation’s website, www.defibandlive.org, early defibrillation with an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and CPR can more than double chances of survival. The American Heart Association estimates that 20,000 to 100,000 Sudden Cardiac Arrest deaths could be prevented if defibrillation was readily available. Why is the donation of an AED so important to Fellowship Place? Recent studies have shown that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death among schizophrenia patients, who die from heart and blood vessel disorders at double the rate of persons without the mental disorder. Serving over 600 individuals annually who suffer from chronic mental illness in our community, Fellowship Place is thrilled to be the recipient of such a valuable piece of life saving equipment.

For more information please contact:
Melissa Holroyd, Fellowship Place Development Director at mholroyd@fellowshipplace.org
Lauren Rossi, The Michael Vincent Sage Dragonheart Foundation at mvs.dragonheart@gmail.com

Fellowship Place Members Take a 5-day Group Trip to Camp CONNRI

CampCONNRI photoThis past month, members and staff of the Fellowship Place social club took a 5-day group trip to Camp CONNRI in Ashford, CT. The camp, accredited by the American Camping Association, the State of Connecticut, and The Salvation Army, offered a variety of fun in the sun and creative activities including swimming, kayaking, hiking, arts and crafts, and so much more. An exciting time was had by all and everyone is looking forward to returning next year!

Thank You George and Paul

Wednesday, April 10, George Cottiero and Paul Bauknecht cooked and served a donated lunch for the Fellowship Place Homeless Engagement Inn. Over 15 individuals in the Inn were treated to a homemade meal. George & Paul began cooking Wednesday lunches in the Inn, in 2008. Fellowship is grateful for their years of support & dedication.

The New Haven PDCA give the Fellowship Inn a fresh new look

During the early morning hours of Friday, April 5, the New Haven Chapter of the PDCA (Painters and Decorating Contractors of America) donated their time, skills and supplies to give our Homeless Engagement Inn a fresh new look. Over a dozen volunteers arrived on our campus to help paint the inside of the Inn. Every year the PDCA does a Paint UP project for a non-profit, Fellowship Place is honored to have been selected this year. Because of their generous efforts, the men & women attending the Inn have a brighter space to come to daily.

Fellowship’s Education and Training Fair a Success

On March 26, Fellowship Place’s Supported Education Program hosted an Education & Training Fair open to the public. Over a dozen representatives from local agencies were on hand to discuss their programs, including Albertus Magnus College, Gateway Community College, Southern Connecticut State University, and University of Bridgeport.

See Mary Guerrera’s Interview with WTNH’s Teresa LaBarbera

Click the link below to see Fellowship Place’s Executive Director, Mary Guerrera’s interview with WTNH’s Teresa LaBarbera about our 9th annual Albert J. Solnit Memorial Lecture featuring Dr. Mark Vonnegut, pediatrician, memoirist, and son of acclaimed Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/ct_style/fellowship-place