Buscetto Family, Filomena's Donate $16k to New L+M Cancer Center

Mike and Heather Buscetto of Waterford, owners of Filomena's Restaurant on Boston Post Road, presented a $16,000 donation to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital officials Wednesday night for its new cancer center.

The donation came after Filomena's participated in the Dine for a Difference program, which collects patron donations for charity. Customers donated $8,000, which the Buscettos matched.

Here's the full release from L+M:

WATERFORD – Combined patron contributions and a matching gift from the owner of Filomena’s restaurant resulted in a $16,000 contribution Wednesday to the new Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Cancer Center.

Filomena’s, participating in the national Dine for a Difference program that provides philanthropic support from restaurants to charitable causes, solicited patron contributions from Monday, October 28, through Thursday, October 31. Those gifts came to nearly $8,000, a total matched dollar-for-dollar by owner Mike Buscetto and wife, Heather.

“Cancer has impacted so many of our friends and loved ones in this community, we felt we had to make a contribution to support L+M’s new Cancer Center here in Waterford,” Buscetto said. “The hospital has made a commitment to attack this disease, and we were overwhelmed by the support from our great customers during those four days.”

After forwarding patron gifts ranging from $20 to several hundred dollars to L+M immediately after the promotion, the Buscettos presented their matching $8,000 check Wednesday night to Bill Stanley, L+M Vice President for Development + Community Relations.

“The tremendous response of Filomenas’ great customers and the very generous contribution from Mike and Heather to match their support is truly humbling,” Stanley said. “On behalf of everyone at our new Cancer Center – most of all, our patients there – I want to thank everyone who contributed to this important cause.”

Waterford First Selectman Dan Steward, who attended the check-passing reception, praised the Buscettos for supporting the Cancer Center.

“Here’s a couple bringing their friends and customers out and matching their gifts with their own personal funds, and that’s just a feel-good story,” said Steward who, along with his wife, Kathy, has also hosted a fundraising reception for the Cancer Center. “If everyone could do that once in a while, it would be good.”

Filomena’s, ranked among the state’s top family restaurants this year by Connecticut Magazine, is located in Utopia Mall on Route 1 in Waterford. L+M’s nearby $34.5 million Cancer Center opened October 1, in clinical partnership with the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. It is being funded through a $30 million capital fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $18 million.

To learn more, contact the L+M Development Office at (860) 442-0711, ext. 2659.