On WTIC 1080 AM’s Community Connections program, John Sponauer, vice president of marketing communications and philanthropic giving at Wheeler Health, and Maura Cook, senior vice president of marketing and development at United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut, joined host Steve Parker to discuss 860Gives, a 48-hour online giving campaign beginning Tuesday, March 31.
More than 140 local community organizations are participating in 860Gives. Wheeler is raising funds for its Basic Needs Fund, which helps individuals and families facing hardship by providing essential resources like winter clothes, personal care items, and even emergency groceries, all of which restore dignity, stability, and hope. Since 2018, more than 10,000 patients have benefited from the fund.
The conversation also highlights Wheeler’s history and services, the fundraising landscape in 2026, and the life-changing impact of the Basic Needs Fund.
Learn more about the Basic Needs Fund, and visit on March 31 to support it through 860Gives!