Travelers’ Andy Bessette Named 2023 George Bahamonde Lifetime Award

United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut and FOX61 today announced Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Travelers, as the recipient of the first George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement Award.

Bessette will be recognized on Nov. 29 at the inaugural ImpaCT Awards Ceremony, which aims to raise awareness and resources to ensure the well-being of children, adults and families across Connecticut.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created to celebrate individuals who have outstanding personal and professional achievements and have dedicated themselves to philanthropy and community with the goal of making the future brighter for generations to come. It is named in honor of the late George Bahamonde, who served as the President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut for 12 years and was passionate about educational outcomes and opportunities for local children.

“Andy Bessette was selected due to his vast professional accomplishments and his strong connection to our community both individually and through his work at Travelers,” said Eric Harrison, President and CEO of United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “Andy’s commitment to our local health care institutions through his board service and his leadership of philanthropic endeavors through the Travelers Championship and many other employee and community engagement efforts are remarkable. His commitment to making the greater Hartford region a thriving community made him the perfect choice to be the first recipient of this very special award.”

Bessette is Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for Travelers. He has responsibility for Corporate Real Estate, Administrative Services, Community Relations, Internal Investigations, Event Management, Business Continuity and Sports Sponsorships, including the company’s official marketing partnership with the PGA TOUR and title sponsorship of the Travelers Championship. He is a member of the University of Connecticut’s Board of Trustees and of the Board of Directors for UConn Health. Bessette is Vice Chairman of the Capital Region Development Authority and a member of the Board of Governors for Hartford Hospital.

“Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside countless individuals who continue to inspire and motivate me every day,” said Bessette. “It is an honor to be recognized by United Way and FOX61 with the first-ever George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement Award. George was a terrific leader and advocate for the community, and I am humbled to be associated with his legacy.”

In addition to the Lifetime Achievement Award, the ImpaCT Awards will recognize and honor other individuals, groups and organizations who make a significant contribution to health care, housing, financial empowerment and/or education in Connecticut.

“FOX61 celebrates highlighting stories of individuals, companies and organizations that are making an impact for their neighbors. When selecting the first George Bahamonde Lifetime Achievement awardee, there was no question about the legacy that Andy is building for our community through his personal and professional efforts. We are pleased to make this announcement alongside United Way and teaming up with them to recognize changemakers in our community through the ImpaCT Awards,” said Humberto Hormaza, President and General Manager, FOX61/CW20, TEGNA.

The inaugural ImpaCT Awards Ceremony will take place on Nov. 29, 2023, at Hartford Marriott Downtown. The ceremony will be streamed on FOX61+ on Dec. 7, 2023, at 7 p.m. in a special one-hour broadcast.

Tickets and sponsorships are on sale now at CTImpactAwards.org and are eligible for charitable tax deductions. Funds raised benefit United Way-supported initiatives that close gaps and create opportunities for people in our community.