Hartford, CT (December 9, 2025) — Connecticut Children’s, the state’s only health system 100% dedicated to children’s well-being, received a $1 million gift from Big Y to support the hospital’s new eight-story clinical Tower, which opened on December 4, 2025. In recognition of this transformative gift, the Tower lobby’s visual centerpiece, a 30-foot-tall, illuminated tree, will be named the Big Y Tree of Life.
“Big Y has been a cherished part of our community for generations, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to our patient families and to our mission to deliver world-class pediatric care close to home,” said Jim Shmerling, president and CEO of Connecticut Children’s. “Their generosity will greet every child and family who walks through our doors. The Big Y Tree of Life represents growth, hope, and a reminder of the strength of our community.”
Connecticut Children’s is proud to care for the children and families of Big Y employees across Connecticut and Massachusetts, making this partnership especially meaningful to staff and caregivers for whom Big Y is also a trusted member of their own community.
As guests enter the new Tower, they will be welcomed by the Big Y Tree of Life, a dramatic floor-to-ceiling sculpture in the two-story glass and light-filled lobby. Designed as a symbol of growth and healing, the tree reflects Big Y’s longstanding commitment to families as the company approaches its 90th anniversary in 2026.
“In our 90 years as a family company, being an active participant in the communities we serve has always been at the heart of who we are,” said Mathieu D’Amour, Big Y’s vice president of real estate and development. “We’re honored to support Connecticut Children’s as they continue to expand their provision of life-changing care for kids across the region.”
The new clinical Tower is part of the most ambitious expansion in Connecticut Children’s history, with new buildings, new capacities and new services across the region—all designed to provide better outcomes for sick kids and provide the medical and mental health care they need close to home. The new state-of-the-art Tower is connected to the existing medical center in Hartford and will include an expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, an Advanced Cellular & Gene Therapy Unit, an Acuity Adaptable Unit and a Fetal Care Center.
About Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut 100% dedicated to kids. That means high-quality care across more than 30 pediatric specialties in 40+ locations throughout Connecticut, Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. One team on a mission to improve access to healthcare from before birth and into adulthood. One team pushing the limits with breakthrough research and community partnerships so we can help you focus on what matters most: your family’s wellness journey. When you choose Connecticut Children’s, you can expect care Beyond Imagination.
Connecticut Children’s is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to improve access to health care for all children.
About Big Y
Big Y Foods, Inc., is a family-owned, locally focused supermarket chain serving communities across the Northeast. With more than 10,000 dedicated employees, Big Y operates supermarkets, Table & Vine fine wine, beer and liquor and Big Y Express fuel and convenience locations. Renowned for its commitment to people and purpose, Big Y has earned recognition from Forbes as a Best-In-State Employer in Massachusetts and Connecticut for seven straight years and from Newsweek as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies for three years running. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store takes its name from an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where two roads converge to form a “Y.”