Black & Red Gala 2020

Hartford Hospital welcomed nearly 1,200 guests to The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, January 25, for the 2020 Black & Red celebrating the programs and services of the Digestive Health Center at Hartford Hospital.

The hospital’s signature fundraising event netted more than $1.3 million in support of the center while raising awareness about the importance of digestive health.

The headline entertainment for the evening, multiplatinum pop artist Andy Grammer, brought the audience in The Bushnell’s Mortensen Hall to its feet with an engaging performance of his hits.

Guests also enjoyed an innovative menu by Max Catering, late-night dancing to the band Flipside in the Belding Theater, and a piano bar in the Autorino Great Hall featuring pianists Dr. Matthew Saidel and Steve Metcalf with singing by WNPR’s Colin McEnroe.

In addition to being one of Hartford’s premier events, the Black & Red is an opportunity to spotlight critical healthcare issues. This year the gala showcased the life-saving work of the clinicians and staff of the Digestive Health Center and the importance of colonoscopies.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in men and women, with as many as 145,000 people diagnosed and about 51,000 dying from the disease in 2019. If caught early, however, colorectal cancer has a 90 percent survival rate. The best tool for early diagnosis is a colonoscopy.

The money raised through the Black & Red will support the continued development of state-of-the-art programs and services for patients navigating digestive disorders.

Click here to view the full gallery and to purchase photos from the event!