VNA Care’s Annual Heroes in Health Care Gala Honors Dr. Angela Patterson, Dr. Lucy Pérez and David J. Totaro

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - VNA Care, the first organized visiting nurse association in the United States, raised nearly $275,000 for home-based health care services during the 21^st annual Heroes in Health Care Gala at the Mandarin Oriental, Boston.

Heroes in Health Care is VNA Care’s signature fundraising event in support of essential funding for home health and hospice care for patients and their families across Massachusetts. Among the philanthropists and businesses supporting this year’s gala were Presenting Sponsors and Honorary Chairs Drs. Joshua and Amy Boger and Presenting Sponsors CVS Health and Mutual of America.

"Heroes in Health Care is a powerful reflection of what we can accomplish when a community comes together around a shared purpose. We are grateful to our sponsors and donors for their generosity and belief in our mission that has helped us raise nearly $5 million over the years. Their commitment helps sustain and strengthen the home health and hospice services that so many individuals and families depend on. We couldn’t do this important work without them,” said Laura Wise, manager of fund development.

During the Gala, Emmy Award Winning Journalist JC Monahan of NBC Boston, the event emcee, presented the Heroes Awards to David J. Totaro, Principal at Liberty Partners Group.

A resident of Newport Coast, Calif., Totaro was recognized for building and sustaining a recognizable voice for home care in Washington, DC, and being a robust champion for this vital work, particularly around complex pediatric home care. He was honored alongside Angela Patterson, DNP, FNP-BC, NEA-BC- FAANP, Enterprise Chief Nurse Officer and VP and Chief Nurse Practitioner Officer/Retail Health for CVS Health, and Lucy Pérez, PhD, Senior Partner of Life Sciences at McKinsey & Company.

VNA Care has a 140-year history of providing health care in patients’ homes. The nonprofit provides a comprehensive range of home health, palliative, and hospice care in more than 200 Eastern and Central Massachusetts communities in addition to end-of-life care at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester. VNA Care is able to provide its numerous nursing and patient care services through the generous support of individual and corporate supporters. To learn about sponsoring the 2027 Gala, please contact Laura Wise, manager of fund development, at 617-886-6460 or Laura_Wise@vnacare.org.