Turning laughs into charity 
By Johnny J. Burnham, The Bristol Press
07/21/2006

BRISTOL - On May 6, Bristol Central High School students dished-out money as they filed into the school auditorium to share some laughs with friends. They purchased tickets to observe the humor of the Interact Club's annual Mr. BCHS Pageant that night. 

As it turns out, the money they spent to attend the show - $2,000 - not only produced their own smiles but will now do the same for individuals battling HIV/AIDS. 

BCHS Interact Club presented Richard Baraglia, executive director of the St. Philip House in Plainville, with a check worth $2,000 at Tuesday's Bristol Rotary Club meeting at Nuchie's Restaurant. The money will go to help St. Philip's carry out its mission of helping those suffering from the deadly disease. 

According to information supplied by Baraglia, St. Philip House provides safe and affordable housing to HIV/AIDS patients who have lost their homes because of the financial burden that comes with their fight for survival. Baraglia added that the St. Philip's currently owns 20 units that house patients and their families.

In addition, the program provides an increase in community awareness through educational workshops, rendering of support services and encouraging empowerment, he said.

Kelly Monahan-DiNoia, Interact Club adviser, said that she was proud of her students for their continual willingness to help within the community.

"It makes my heart swell with pride to see them do something like this," she said. "Sixty kids every year come to me to join this club because they want to do community service, not because they are being forced to. They are just great, great kids."

The Interact Club is a junior division of the Rotary Club.

Megan Fanion, who served as co-president of the club along with Olivia Mazzarella, said that on behalf of the entire Interact Club that she was "proud" they were able to raise this money but even more proud to present the check to Baraglia.
Both Fanion and Mazzarella, who graduated in June, were joined by newly appointed club president Nicole Cloutier at the presentation.

But for Baraglia, seeing teenagers who are willing to help St. Philip's is always something special, especially, he said, with the disease affecting and being contracted by a large number of individuals in the 15 to 23 age group.

"I didn't expect this much [money]," he said upon receiving the check. "It's great to see kids doing something productive like this. You always here about the bad stuff but this is certainly something good."

He added that although the disease may not be as widespread as it once seemed, it is still very much alive - according to Baraglia, two people per hour contract the disease with half being under the age of 25 - and the money donated by the Interact Club will help educate youngsters on the disease.

In addition, Baraglia said, some of the money will be used to buy school supplies for the children of those battling HIV/AIDS. 

Comfort found in St. Philip

The Plainville Citizen

St. Philip Neri, the patron saint of Rome who lived in the 1500s, worked in the streets with people regarded as "the disenfranchised," the poor and the outcast, said Rich Baraglia, executive director of St. Philip House in Plainville. It seemed an appropriate name, he said, because the program, which was established in 1990, was created to provide services and housing to some of society's overlooked people, those with HIV/AIDS. "They're outcasts," he said. 

he mission of St. Philip House is to provide people with HIV/AIDS accessible, safe and affordable housing, increase community awareness and offer support services to individuals and their loved ones. There are also several residences in other towns.

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In town, Murphy listens to drug program concerns

The Plainville Citizen

By Ken DiMauro, The Plainville Citizen

Reprinted with permission from Feb. 23, 2006 issue of The Plainville Citizen.

State Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, who is running against U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson for her 5th Congressional District seat, made two stops in Plainville to listen to concerns about the Medicare Part D prescription drug program and talk about some solutions that he hopes will make it less complicated and costly.

Murphy, who has spent eight years in the General Assembly, decided not to run again for the 16th Senatorial District, which includes Waterbury, Cheshire and part of Southington. Instead he is opting to be the Democratic candidate for the 5th Congressional District and eventually take on Johnson, whom he described as being “a Washington insider.”

On Feb. 9, Murphy spent about an hour speaking to senior citizens at the Bellmarie Assisted Living center and then talked to residents at the St. Philip House. The latter is a residence that helps people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

Talking to more than a dozen residents, caseworkers and officials at the St. Philip House, Murphy said he is worried about the escalating cost of the Medicare Part D prescription drug program, which he described as originally estimated at $400 billion nationally, but is now estimated at $1.2 trillion.

Murphy said when politicians created the new program that would help seniors and people with long-term illnesses pay for medicines, it was well-intentioned, but since has become expensive, complicated and massive.

In Connecticut alone, there are 44 prescription plans to choose from and the complicated nature of selecting a plan will mean that some people will pay more than they do now or possibly fall through the cracks of health care.

Murphy said he’d like to see four or five plans instead of 44, with more use of the purchasing and negotiating power of the federal government, letting Medicare run the program. He said pooling of subscribers’ money in a fund would increase purchasing power, instead of diluting it 44 different ways via involvement from a myriad of drug companies.

He also said he is worried about “mom-and-pop pharmacies” surviving the complicated paperwork involved in the new program. Murphy said some small drug stores have had to open later to assist customers with the plan. Large chains have more resources and can help customers with filing the paperwork .

One resident at the St. Philip House said she knows of people who were on the telephone for hours to get answers about the prescription drug program and whether certain drugs were covered.

Murphy urged those in attendance to e-mail or write letters of protest to members of Congress, voicing displeasure about the new program. He said as chairman of the state legislature’s Public Health Committee, he has been trying to make the prescription drug program less complicated and less costly.

Murphy said state hearings on the matter may take place this year and he asked residents and staffers at the St. Philip House to testify or send letters of support.

Richard Baraglia, executive director of the St. Philip House, said he was pleased Murphy spoke to and listened to residents and staff members, because people with long-term illnesses need help with day-to-day living, including the purchase of medicines.

Susie Woerz, executive director of the Plainville Community Food Pantry, said she sees seniors having problems making ends meet, having to make a choice between paying for rent, food or medicine and not able to pay for all three.

Story on Support Group

Bristol Observer, 2005

By MIKE CHAIKEN

If you have AIDS or are HIV Positive, there is a new place to turn for comfort, support, and information.

St. Philip House has initiated a new HIV/ AIDS support group at its facility at 80 Broad St. in Plainville. The group meets the third Friday of every month at 5 p.m. The group is facilitated by Ken Flyte of AIDS Project Hartford

The group takes over where a similar group offered by Bristol Hospital left off, explained Richard Baraglia of St. Philip House. The facilitator of the Bristol Hospital support group had moved, Baraglia explained. And there was a void when she left. So, St. Philip House, which offers Section 8 subsidized housing to patients who are HIV Positive or have full-blown AIDS, decided it would take over similar duties.

The first meeting of the group was held in November, said Flyte. Five people attended that meeting. But Flyte said he hopes there will be a larger turn-out as word gets around Bristol, Southington, New Britain, Farmington, and Plainville that the group is now available. Although the focus is on those communities, Flyte said, “It’s for anybody, anywhere.”

The meetings, which are completely confidential, will offer many opportunities for those with HIV or AIDS. Flyte, and the members of the group, will share information about services available to patients, where there are food pantries available, the effectiveness of different medications, doctors, and more. Flyte also said he will field any questions participants have, and will follow-up with answers at subsequent meetings. The group also will bring in guest speakers to address issues HIV or AIDS patients may have.

The group meets in the sunroom of the St. Philip House facility. The meeting space is more like a living room than a sterile meeting space, which is more conducive for participants to kick back.

Flyte said participants in the group are encouraged to get comfortable and get relaxed in the space. “Be yourself,” said Flyte.

The driving force behind the group, said Flyte, is to help the patients and “let them know they are not alone.”

And the key point is that it is confidential. “I don’t even acknowledgement my clients as a case manager on the street… I let them make the first move.”

Asked if AIDS and HIV is a problem in the area, Flyte said, “To me, there’s a problem that people aren’t recognizing it’s still here and it’s in their community.”

In addition, Flyte said, “There are people out there who don’t know what’s going on (and where to get help).”

No registration is necessary to attend the meetings, said Flyte. But, if someone wants to call ahead, Flyte said they merely need to contact Baraglia.

Baraglia said if someone has difficulty finding transportation to the meetings, and if they are within the area, it may be possible to make arrangements. Flyte said he has offered rides to participants in the past. “We’d get them here somehow.”

The group is also open to partners, wives, and family members who are not HIV-positive, said Flyte. But they must keep in mind all that is said within the group is kept within the group.

Baraglia also said, in addition to hosting the HIV/ AIDS support group, St. Philip House offers Section 8 housing to those who are HIV positive or who have full-blown AIDS. The primary qualification, other than the diagnosis, is that the residents must be six-months substance free.

For more information about the group, contact Flyte at (860) 951-4833 or Kf@aidsprojecthartford.org. For directions to St. Philip House, contact Richard Baraglia at (860) 793-2221 ext. 11 or rbaraglia@stphiliphouse.org. 

St. Philip House Annual Golf Tournament

The Herald, August 5, 2005

St. Philip House held its 10th Annual Golf Tournament on August 3, 2005. The tournament attracted 140 golfers to Tunxis Plantation Country Club in Farmington on a spectacular summer day

The success of the tournament is attributed to committee members: Karen Caron, Sharon Simpson, Dan Dougherty and Jack Adie were determined to make this year’s tournament outstanding. And outstanding it was! This year’s tournament raised over $11,000 for the organization. 

We are thankful to the many local businesses that served as sponsors and donated items for the raffle held at the dinner that took place at The Farmington Club. This year’s major sponsors included: Atria Group, Inc., Economy Spring and Stamping (Southington) and Hudson Home Health Care. We are grateful for their support and ensuring the tournament’s success. 

The Department of Social Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the United Way of West Central Connecticut predominantly fund St. Philip House. Events such as the golf tournament are necessary to raise the remaining funds to continue providing services to St. Philip House’s 35 residents.

The next tournament will take place on August 2, 2006 at Tunxis Plantation Country Club with the dinner to follow at The Farmington Club. If you would like to volunteer on the committee or need information, contact Richard Baraglia at St. Philip House at 793-2221.

Residents at education events