More than 135 members and supporters of the Yale New Haven and Hospital of Saint Raphael auxiliaries came together September 23 for the YNHH Auxiliary’s 62nd annual meeting – a week before the two organizations became one. The auxiliaries officially integrated October 1, after nearly two years of work to join the two institutions, each with long histories of supporting their hospitals and the community.
Betty LaBonia: YNHH Auxiliary President
Betty LaBonia, newly elected president of the Yale New Haven Hospital Auxiliary, has a long history of volunteerism in her community. In addition to serving the Saint Raphael Auxiliary in various leadership roles (including assistant treasurer, treasurer, vice president and president) over the last 20 years, Betty has also contributed her time as a board member at Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Cheshire Academy, and several business organizations; Citizens Action Refugee Effort (CARE); St. Thomas Becket Women’s Club; North Haven Art League; and the Cheshire Academy Parents Association, where she served as president. With a passion for literacy, Betty has been a teacher’s aide working with children in reading comprehension, set up summer library programs in the North Haven School system, and served as secretary of the Right to Read Council (CT Chapter).
A graduate of Bay Path College, Betty has been a resident of Cheshire for 36 years and is the owner of Platt & LaBonia Company in North Haven, a sheet metal manufacturing company. She enjoys cooking, art, music/dancing and traveling.