Community leader recognized for decades of dedication and service to survivors of domestic violence
MIDDLETOWN, Conn., October 29, 2026 – New Horizons Domestic Violence Services, a program of Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC), honored longtime community advocate and fundraiser Patti Anne Vassia with its annual Champion Award, recognizing her decades of commitment to strengthening the community and supporting survivors of domestic violence.
More than 100 donors, supporters, and friends gathered to celebrate Vassia’s contributions. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented a proclamation recognizing her years of dedicated service and unwavering advocacy on behalf of the domestic violence community.
During the event, Kasey Harding, Director CHC’s Center for Key Populations and New Horizons, recognized the organization’s staff for their extraordinary commitment to supporting survivors, including maintaining a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week domestic violence hotline (860-344-9599), where a caring, knowledgeable person always answers the call.
Harding also underscored the growing demand for services and the urgent need for safe housing. One in three homicides in Connecticut this year has been related to domestic violence, she noted. With the shelter operating at 175 percent of capacity, New Horizons strives to make sure no survivor is turned away.
CHC Founder and President Mark Masselli praised Vassia’s remarkable impact on the community. “Patti did more than work in this community, she transformed it,” Masselli said. “She makes community a verb, and Middlesex County is better for it.”
In accepting the Champion Award, Vassia reflected on her many years of service, expressing gratitude to the community and the New Horizons team. She also shared a powerful vision for a future free from domestic violence: “If we’re all living our potential, we will not have domestic violence.”
The event also served as the launch of an annual fundraising campaign allowing New Horizons to ensure that survivors have access to safety, support, and the resources they need to rebuild their lives.