Bravo Bradley
More than $1 Million Raised at Bravo Bradley 2023!
Bradley Hospital raised over $1 million during its signature annual event, Bravo Bradley, held this year on June 9 at Mount Hope Farm in Bristol.
The evening’s intermittent rain did not dampen the spirits nor the generosity of the many attendees who came out to support Bradley, the nation’s first psychiatric hospital devoted exclusively to children and adolescents.
The evening – designed around the theme “Reaching for the Stars” – included dinner, dancing, a speaking program, and live auction in a tented space on Mount Hope Farm’s beautiful waterfront grounds.
In all, this year’s Bravo Bradley, co-chaired by Brenda and David Turchetta, raised $986,330. Of that, about $420,000 benefited a fund-a-need appeal for The Bradley Center, an acute residential treatment program for teens dealing with a wide range of emotional and behavioral concerns. A post-auction pledge to The Bradley Center of an additional $50,000 from Tricia O’Neil pushed the evening’s total well over the million-dollar mark.
Donors Carol Peterson, Al and Gerrie Verrecchia, and Dr. Henry Sachs kicked off the fund-a-need appeal with pledges of $25,000 each. They were followed by dozens more generous donations, ranging from $10,000 to $250.
As auctioneer Harry Santa-Olalla concluded the appeal, Joe Brito, Jr. made a surprise announcement of his $100,000 donation in honor of his wife, Betty Brito, who was also in attendance and serves on the Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees.
The event also featured compelling remarks by Bradley Hospital President Dr. Henry Sachs and a 13-year-old patient speaker, Grant, who spoke about how Bradley Hospital’s evidence-based exposure therapy treatment helped him overcome anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Another highlight of the evening was the live auction, with coveted items including a week-long stay in Antigua; a New England sports package that featured tickets to Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots games; an exciting trip to Napa Valley; and an opportunity to attend a movie premiere in New York City.
Bradley Hospital extends its deepest gratitude to the 2023 Bravo Bradley co-chairs Brenda and David Turchetta and sponsors:
Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation; Susan O. and David A. Brown; Turchetta & Associates; Amica Insurance; Christine and William Carr; Roger and Cynthia Sherman; Betty and Joe Brito, Jr.; Cox Business; Kate Luckett and Steve Pasquariello; NEMD Architects; Carol A. Peterson; Tricia S. O’Neil, CFA, Managing Director, Descendants Wealth Management at Raymond James; and many more.
2023 Fund-a-Need
The Bradley Center is a 16-bed residence in Cranston that provides short-term intensive treatment for adolescents ages 12 to 17 who suffer from serious emotional and behavioral disturbances, substance use and associated problems, or co-occurring disorders and are in need of short-term stabilization, assessment and treatment for suicidal, aggressive or other unsafe behaviors.
A Record $1.2 Million Raised During Bravo Bradley!
Bradley Hospital raised a record $1.2 million during its largest annual fundraiser, Bravo Bradley, held on June 24 at the Aquidneck Club in Portsmouth. The hospital’s donor community took its already incredible generosity to a new level at a time when it is needed more than ever – amid the current national pediatric mental health crisis.
“It was amazing to see the community come together like never before in support of our patients and their families,” said Henry Sachs, MD, Bradley Hospital’s president.
Titled “Together Brighter Futures are Possible,” the gala was held in an outdoor tent against a backdrop of colorful décor and sweeping views of Narragansett Bay. It was co-chaired by Kelly and Bernie Lambrese, who warmly welcomed all attendees to “the Bradley family.”