Hamot Strong

Over 650 happy faces filled the Bayfront Convention Center on April 27 to celebrate scholarship at Hamot Strong 2019.

A Hamot Health Foundation fundraiser, the lively and successful event raised $175,000 in scholarship funding through the support of sponsors, live and silent auctions, basket raffles, prize wheel spins, and wine pulls. Scholarships were awarded to 76 deserving UPMC Hamot employees in pursuit of advanced degrees in various areas of health care.

Joe Lang of Connoisseur Media served as master of ceremonies while UPMC Hamot President David Gibbons addressed an enthusiastic crowd, sharing the inspirational stories of scholarship recipients Missy Altadonna (nursing) and Anthony Zaffuto (dietetics).

Hamot Health Foundation President Boo Hagerty turned up the buzz in the room by unveiling a check and announcing a pledge to raise $1.2 million in scholarship funding for UPMC Hamot employees over the next three years.

This exceeds the $1 million given by Hamot Health Foundation for the same purpose over the past three years.

Hamot Health Foundation aims high to provide generous scholarship funding with good reason. Research has shown that hospitals see significantly improved patient outcomes when more employees have advanced degrees. At UPMC Hamot, better patient outcomes are always the goal and help to define the mission of Hamot Health Foundation.

Hamot Strong was presented by UPMC Health Plan.