Jennings to be honored during event on Oct. 10 at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater

The Center for Family Justice is proud to announce that William M. Jennings, President of the Fairfield Region at Hartford HealthCare, will be the first recipient of its Key to Hope award.

The award is being presented to Jennings due to his tremendous contributions in support of  victims of violence.

Jennings will be honored as part of CFJ’s second annual Regional Domestic Violence Awareness Month Vigil on Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at the Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater in Bridgeport. The program will run from 6 until 8 p.m.

“We are honored to work closely with someone like Bill, and we are so thankful for his advocacy on behalf of adults and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual violence and child abuse,” said Debra Greenwood, President and CEO of The Center for Family Justice. “His is a culture of hope.”

Jennings said much credit should be given to the healthcare professionals doing the work.

“I am proud to be a partner with the Center for Family Justice, advocating for domestic and sexual abuse victims who are silenced by fear and endure unimaginable hardships,” Jennings said.  “The doctors and nurses at St. Vincent’s Medical Center emergency department are the real heroes, compassionately caring for victims. We may never be able to end the cycle of violence, but we can ensure our healthcare professionals receive specialized training in the care of victims that is crucial in bringing perpetrators to justice.“

Jennings joined Hartford HealthCare as president of the Fairfield Region in July of 2021. Prior to that, he served as executive vice president for Tower Health, a six-hospital system in Pennsylvania, and president and CEO of the system’s flagship 714-bed Reading Hospital.

Mr. Jennings took the helm of St. Vincent’s Medical Center and the Fairfield Region having previously served as executive vice president for Yale New Haven Health and CEO of Bridgeport Hospital for eight years.

Prior to his leadership of Bridgeport Hospital, Mr. Jennings was president of SSM St. Mary’s Health Center in St. Louis. He also served as president for the SSM St. Louis Heart Institute, which served six hospitals. Mr. Jennings has held executive positions with BayCare Health System in Florida, and the Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, Tenn. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University, and his Master’s degree in Hospital Administration from Ohio State University.

CFJ’s vigil on 10/10  is an opportunity for the community to mourn the 21 lives lost to domestic violence in 2022. The range in age is from as young as 11 months to 77 years old.

“Domestic violence can happen to anyone, which just highlights the need for effective partnerships like the one CFJ has with Bill Jennings,” Greenwood said.

The community will be well represented at Tuesday’s vigil as members of the area’s police departments, youth groups, CFJ’s Latine Unit and members of CFJ’s White Ribbon Committee (men who want to help involve other men and boys in violence prevention) will participate.

Questions about the vigil can be directed to CFJ’s Development Department at (203) 334-6154.

The vigil is a free event. Food will be available for purchase from Dave’s Planet Pizza Truck.

If anyone wishes, please bring a bag of Halloween candy, which we will use to serve client families at our upcoming Boo Bash later in October.

 

About The Center for Family Justice, Inc.

The Center for Family Justice breaks the cycle of abuse and violence – domestic, sexual and child – by providing services that create hope, restore lives and drive social change through education and community collaboration.

Our vision is to end domestic and sexual abuse and violence in our communities.

We believe that:

  • Everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
  • Collaboration with our clients, partners and communities is vital to achieve individualized choice, success, and empowerment.
  • Trust is essential for our work in building self-sufficient survivors.
  • Compassion and hope allow people to thrive and feel safe.
  • Community education, awareness and outreach are essential to drive and maintain social change and justice.

For more information, please visit: https://centerforfamilyjustice.org/about-us/what-we-do/mission-vision-values/

If you are in a crisis situation and need help, please call our 24/7 hotlines:

  • Domestic Violence: 203-384-9559
  • Sexual assault: 203-333-2233
  • Spanish: 888-568-8332
  • Text: (888) 999-5545