Journeys of Hope Podcast - Episode Nineteen

The mission of Blythedale Children's Hospital is brought to life through the stories of those who dedicate themselves to its cause. In this episode of Journeys of Hope, host Rebecca Solomon introduces us to Carmine Lippolis and his daughter Michelle Parinello, whose unwavering commitment has profoundly impacted the lives of medically fragile children.  Discover how their dedication has helped raise nearly five million dollars and transformed lives.

You can also listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Key Takeaways:

1. Community support can significantly impact healthcare outcomes for children
2. Family involvement and legacy are powerful motivators for philanthropy
3. Events like the Acrisure Fall Golf Classic foster community and raise substantial funds

TRANSCRIPT

Rebecca Solomon (00:05)
Hello and welcome to Journeys of Hope, a podcast from Blythedale Children's Hospital, inspired by the strength, resilience, and unshakable spirit of medically fragile children. My name is Rebecca Solomon, and today we're joined by a remarkable father and daughter team whose dedication has helped shape the future of Blythedale Children's Hospital. Carmine Lippolis and Michelle Parinello have spent years championing our mission through leadership, philanthropy, and the fall golf classic.

We are so excited to hear their story and what continues to inspire their commitment to the children and families we serve. Carmen and Michelle, welcome to Journeys of Hope.

carmine (00:44)
Hi, how are you?

Rebecca Solomon (00:45)
I'm doing great. I'm really looking forward to speaking to both of you. Carmine, let's begin

carmine (00:49)
Thanks for having us.

Rebecca Solomon (00:50)
with you, of course. Now, Carmine, you've spent decades building Lippolis Electric into a successful family business.

At some point during this time, you were inspired to become involved with Blythedale Children's Hospital. Tell us about that.

carmine (01:05)
Sure. So around 2005 I was president

of the Westchester County Licensed Electrical Contractors Association and the board decided they wanted to team up with a charity and we had about five charities targeted. I don't think Blythedale was on that target, but I I there were Blythedale was next to where my sister Rosemary lived.

And I used to pass by that see the sign and I I was always intrigued by it. What what does this place do? So I ended up calling Blythedale and Lena Cavanna was in in charge of I guess you know public relations at that time and and she I spoke to her on the phone and immediately we had this connection. It was and we're friends today.

we talked about, you know, what I wanted to do, what my vision was for the association. And at that time I was trying to, you know, just you know, expand the association that was getting involved in community, you know, things and charities.

she t invited me up and I went up there and it was, you know, immediately, you know

took the temperature of the place. I mean I could see that people were happy, the people working there and the the doctors, the staff, security, the teachers, everybody was just happy. And meanwhile, the kids were, you know, sick and, you know, needed help.

Rebecca Solomon (02:37)
Right.

carmine (02:37)
And I think it just kinda hit me that, you know, how lucky I was to have three healthy children and

You

know, it just kinda hit me and it was a life changing experience that that that forty-five minutes. And I remember getting in the car and just saying, you know, I I have to try to make a difference here. I didn't see it was gonna be like twenty one years later, but and that's kinda really what happened. That's that was the beginning of it. And and and the crazy part of it, I call Lena

It was around Christmas time. I called Lena about a you know a day later. I said, Listen, I need you to come to this restaurant. I got two hundred electricians there, all men. And we're gonna set up a table and we're gonna put a banner up, Blythedale Children's Hospital. We're gonna have a basket, say, check put checks in this basket or cash. And we collected about twenty thousand dollars. And it was like

Rebecca Solomon (03:37)
Incredible.

carmine (03:38)
And I we did I did that with or we did that with no effort. And I said, Man, we got something going here. And every year, you know, the Springboard was the association. You know, for years that was the Springboard. I was, you know, the f I was the president and board member and I you know and then eventually, you know, as I as it grew, it became more that I was, you know, involved.

Rebecca Solomon (04:04)
Wonderful and your passion early on for Blythedale and your curiosity.

Of Blythedale that continued, and that philanthropic mission that you have for the hospital has just continued year after year. You've chaired the Fall Golf Classic for nearly two decades, and that event has raised close to five million dollars during your leadership. Thank you for all you've done. What has made this event such a meaningful labor of love for you?

carmine (04:35)
Well, I think it's you know, I like to play golf. and I like to be around my friends and family. And you know, I was able to, you know, so when you have those two things that you could do and raise some money, I mean it's really easy. And I think after

years of doing this, we have a lot of the same faces come. So it's just not me, it's it's the people that are donating the money and playing golf that are part of this whole committee. You know, it's like one big one big committee. And and I think that's what made it successful. And

I I I always pitch the story.

You know, I always try to paint that picture or what we're doing here, you know. And that's what kinda, you know, I think motivates people. And I think what happens is, you know, when I first got into this, I thought I was I had an S on my chest. I was Superman, I was gonna solve all problems. But I realize the kids just keep on coming and coming. They don't stop. You know.

So,

you know, we're here to make a l make their life make a difference in their life a little bit every day. So

Rebecca Solomon (05:56)
And you are making a difference. And Michelle, I'm sure you can attest that your father, he one of his greatest strengths is bringing people together. I'm sure you've learned that n at a very young age, right? And you that's right. How can you? I mean, look what

carmine (06:05)
Yes. Yes. And it's say no to him.

Rebecca Solomon (06:12)
he's doing. And and that that is such a

skill and such a talent to have to bring people together who care and in your case from recruiting committee members to securing Acrisure as the title sponsor of the golf outing, how do you inspire others to get behind the mission of Blythedale?

carmine (06:32)
know, most people know I'm involved. They know if I'm involved in something it's serious, you know, I and I I think it you know, everything you do in life it's it's that passion you put behind it. You know, I try to make everybody else passionate. you know, the committee we have together, you know, there was a time where I was a one man committee. And

But that wasn't that wasn't there was something it it was something off about that. We grew to a point where I had to involve other people. So instead it was one voice, you know, sending that message out, there was, you know, seven voices now. And I think one of the biggest regrets I had at the beginning was that.

I didn't involve my children. It was like it was like to them it was work. You know, it was just going to work. I was going to Blythedale outing. It was a work. And I said, you know, what kind of legacy am I leaving here? You know, I have to have my children, you know, understand what important it is to change a person's life. You know, whether would they go on with Blythedale or their own thing, they need to understand that. You know, life is, you know

much more than, you know, just taking, you know, you gotta be given.

Rebecca Solomon (07:50)
It's really good lesson. And I think that's something that any parent, caregiver, guardian, role model can take with them. we we forget that you know, day in and day out, it's our children, it's the younger generation that we we help shape who they are and lead by example. And you are certainly doing that because Michelle, look at what you've done, right? I mean, I think you've grown up watching your dad's dedication to Blythedale.

What did you learn, Michelle, from seeing his commitment over the years, and how did that influence your decision to get involved?

carmine (08:27)
well like he said, when I was younger it just was part of work. I I didn't really see the difference of what he was doing or making a difference with Blythedale. and honestly I probably didn't really recognize it until

you were once honored from Blythedale. We all went to New York City, it was a big dinner, he was honored and he made a speech and just I mean, you hear him now, I mean the way he talks about is very

passionate,

motivating. So it was really then and I didn't even work for my father at that time, but it was really then where I really realized the big changes that he's making. Before then in high school there was times I went for tours of the hospital. I tried to do some volunteer work just to help out. but it wasn't really until I was more of an adult

where I started helping him then with the golf outing.

and now I'm part of the advisory council for Blythedale.

Rebecca Solomon (09:27)
And we do appreciate all that you've done being on the Blythedale Advisory Council. And yeah, I mean you head up marketing at Lippolis Electric and you know, you bring that fresh perspective. How do you approach introducing new audiences and younger generations to Blythedale's mission?

carmine (09:44)
so it's more of honestly a social thing. You know, I feel very separated from like the golf outing is more of my dad's friends or his customers, clients, you know, more of that. And then when I talk about the advisory council it's more to my friends or young professionals, people that may not be in the know or just not aware. so I think it's more of a social thing.

Where we try to not be so formal and just try to really get the word out there. I I think that's what makes it special. If you really think about it, it's the other buckets that h happen from the golf outing. The other

You know, the other things that happen, you know, Michelle is now on the Young Advisory Board. So she's not, you know, it's it's her thing.

she's part of the 5 K walk. That's her thing.

Rebecca Solomon (10:37)
Mm-hmm.

carmine (10:38)
You know, and so many other people have gotten involved and Acrisure does other things for the for the hospital.

and other people that have played golf, they've grown to do things for the hospital. So I think that's what's important. It's just not this this, you know, golf outing. It's what grows from there. And you know, the golf outing's gonna go with or without me. It's gonna be, you know, if it was it wasn't me, somebody else is gonna do it. But I think what really I'm proud of is how other different aspects, what happens

with the individuals like Michelle and Paul from Acrisure and and even my sister Ellen, she is she is she's she was a an ex am administr a retired administrator from Iona University. She has a PhD and she's at Blythedale volunteering with little children, just holding little children. That's my my sister's Doctor Small. And you know, so

These

type of things happen. I think that's what I'm really proud of. You know, a bunch of guys getting to play golf and raise some money is really cool and it's important and we raise a lot of money. Look a look a example like Tony Pec. You know, why not you media? What he does. And

Rebecca Solomon (12:06)
Mm-hmm.

carmine (12:06)
that was just because he was in my office and we were talking or we were on the phone, I says, you know, why don't you why you're doing this? Why don't you do it for Blythedale?

And that's how that was created. And I think that's really special.

Rebecca Solomon (12:20)
It is. And we

loved hearing from Tony on one of our other Journeys of Hope podcasts that is live as well now. So, you know, if you want to hear more about that story, definitely listen to that. And he even talks about you, Carmine, about how you helped him get involved in

philanthropy and helping out in Blythedale. And it does. It goes hand in hand. It is that commitment. And in your case, it's a family commitment

in so many ways between your sister and your daughter and your families.

What has it been like working together in support of a that means so much to both of you?

carmine (12:54)
It's just easy. I mean

especially because with the golf outing,

you reach out to the same people year after year. I mean, they're they're like, of course, they're planning on participating. They want to make the difference too. So that makes it, you know, simple. I mean this year it's it's it's it's you you don't know what to expect. You know, we we went through this we we we did this through the pandemic. We don't know what to expect. And

like this year I think it's been like the easiest year or you know, we just it's just it's just doing its own thing and we have a hundred and forty golfers. And that's insane, you know. So

Rebecca Solomon (13:36)
So exciting. Yeah.

carmine (13:38)
I you know and I'm I'm really proud. As far as working my daughter, it's great. I mean 'cause we you know, I'm very blessed. My my daughter and I we get along, we talk, you know, so I I think I we have a a special relationship

than other father daughters maybe have. So and for you know to watch her, you know, grow like this and you know to achieve these different things, I I it's really special for me because now I feel, you know, I feel that okay, so maybe a little part of my legacy is is real here, you know?

Rebecca Solomon (14:16)
yeah, for sure. Carmine, people often describe you as someone who gets emotional when talking about Blythedale.

carmine (14:24)
Yeah.

Rebecca Solomon (14:25)
I've heard from some of my colleagues, like a big teddy bear.

So are you a it's true, you're a self proclaimed teddy bear?

carmine (14:29)
Yeah, well that's true. Yeah, I'd probably d

I'd probably take him best. You gotta try to make Carmine cry. Try to make Carmine cry.

Rebecca Solomon (14:36)
my gosh. Well, I I

don't think it's too hard to do that, but

carmine (14:40)
Yeah.

Rebecca Solomon (14:40)
what is it about the children and the families or the even the staff at Blythedale that continue to touch your heart

carmine (14:47)
every year's a

different story. You know, like every year, you know, there was a a different story at the at the at the golf, you know, reception. Right. And you know, whether it's, you know, a little boy Charlie or a little girl Gina or Gia, you know, like it's d these stories, man, like and and I feel like

I feel like it's my job to do some sort of protection. You know, like I feel like by raising this money or or sending this message, I am protecting them somehow.

And if everybody knows me, that's what I like to do. I like to protect people. So.

Rebecca Solomon (15:31)
We feel it at the hospital and we know that every little bit does help. And in your case, it's a lot. And the outcomes of these children, like the children you mentioned that you see at our outings who come and speak with their families, the outcomes are so magical and so amazing. And I often feel that yeah, a large part of that is because of the clinicians and the doctors and the nurses and everyone that's working their magic in the halls in the hospital. But

It's also people like you and and your family and everything you're doing outside of the hospital for the hospital. It all plays a part in the outcomes of these families.

carmine (16:11)
think so. I mean I've seen it. Over twenty years you see the changes. You know, they really didn't have a you know a a a a a program that

taught the parents how to, you know, take care of their children. I mean the work really h starts when the child leaves the hospital. And that's one thing people don't realize, you know, through social workers and and you know, special care workers, you know, that you know, that's when the work starts. I mean you can imagine taking a child home as a parent

You

have to take a home and then you have to care for that person, you know, with clean their feeding tube and and and and take care of this and give them their medicine. You know, you're acting as a parent and a nurse at the same time and and you got all these emotions, you know, tied up into that. I mean, how do you do that? I think and I th and that's what I'm I'm really proud to see that evolve over the years.

Rebecca Solomon (17:16)
These parents have more skill and more confidence and more courage than the average person, and they know exactly what they're doing as soon as they leave the hospital.

carmine (17:27)
Yeah. Yeah. And I I you know and it's not every year, but I'd say every other year I I force myself to go walk the whole walk the four corners of the hospital.

and I have to stay that I have to the message to me has to s be real. You know, I have to see that. I think the next thing that we're gonna do is that I

I I wanna get my my office involved because again they think it is just hey Carmin's, you know, making calls, raising money, it's a job. But I think I'm gonna get my office involved in going over there and spending some time. And if one person from the office becomes a volunteer or starts their own five K walk or whatever it is, then great. You know. We how many kids is a marathon. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon.

Rebecca Solomon (18:15)
True.

It's true. And our doors will always be open, especially for supporters like you. So come walk the halls anytime. You're always welcome. Michelle, what has surprised you most since joining Blythedale Advisory Council? And is there something about the hospital you wish more people knew?

carmine (18:34)
surprise wise, I think, you know, when I first was approached about being on the advisory council, I think I was a little intimidated and I thought I had to make a big commitment, I had to be doing stuff all the time, and it's just kind of like you you're kinda with your friends, you know, we have this small group and we're all love talking with each other, so it's not like another piece of work, it's just

casual and comfortable. You know, we try to come in and have I wouldn't say monthly or, you know, maybe four times a year, five times a year we try to meet in person.

I didn't feel so like strict walking in the doors of the hospital. I feel comfortable.

so that really kinda surprised me. there's nothing to be scared about to go there and work with these people of Blythedale every day, so they're very easy they're very

Rebecca Solomon (19:30)
And what do you wish yeah?

carmine (19:31)
easy to work with the people from Blythedale. I mean,

But even with the advisory

council, you know, they always ask for your ideas and sometimes

You know, my little idea I feel like may not be important enough or I wouldn't know how to go about it, and they're there to help to make it happen. So, so yeah.

Rebecca Solomon (19:51)
And what do you wish more people knew about Blythedale?

carmine (19:54)
I think I wish more people knew that they could just go for a tour and see for themselves. I wish more people knew that they could volunteer. You know, they don't need to go through this big thing. You know, with the advisory council we have something called the ad the ambassador program. And, you know, when you kind of talk to people and say, Do you want to be an ambassador, they feel like they have to be so involved. And they really don't. They kinda could just come for a tour.

Maybe they'll wanna volunteer, maybe they just wanna get the word out. Maybe they don't have the funds to really donate money, but maybe they could help raise the money. So I think people should be more aware of that, that they can, you know, make the phone call like my dad did. They could go for the tour and really see for themselves.

Rebecca Solomon (20:43)
Such good advice. That's great. Yeah. you gotta step your foot in the door, get get that's where it starts, right? And go from there. Now for people who have attended the Fall Golf Classic, it's much more than a day on the course. What do you hope every golfer, sponsor, and volunteer walks away with after the event?

carmine (21:04)
you know, I want them to walk away

however they participated that day, their money went to changing a child's life. That's it.

You know, you know, we're that's what we're doing. We're playing golf, it's sunny out.

And some child we're would would changing their life, we're changing a parent's life, a grandparent's life. And that's the message, man. It's that simple. It ain't complicated. I will say, almost everyone that comes to the golf outing, when they get there and they're like saying hello, they say, This is the funnest golf outing of all all the years, you know, this is always the funnest. But there's really no thrills, you know, there's not a lot to it. They're just having fun playing golf. Yeah. So I'm not a golfer. So

Rebecca Solomon (21:48)
Good people, good competition. Yeah,

it really is a good vibe all around.

carmine (21:51)
It doesn't seem that fun to me, but they're just having fun.

you know, every year I say this you know, they're not gonna l like to hear this, but every year I say this is my last year. I say maybe I'm stale, you know, maybe it's you know, it's time to relinquish this and have somebody else do it, make it better. 'Cause th there's always room for improvement, let's face it. Come on.

And but I you know a after you know we go through you know the meetings and the committee meetings and then we get to the the the golf outing and I don't really even care about playing golf. I just like being around the people that day and I say, yeah, you know what, let's do it another year.

Rebecca Solomon (22:32)
I like

that answer. And before you change your mind, we're gonna move to the next question. So don't let that marinade. Well,

carmine (22:37)
Sure.

Rebecca Solomon (22:40)
looking back on all you've done, what accomplishment are you most proud of, either personally but also in terms of what the Blythedale community has achieved together? And feel free, both of you can answer this.

carmine (22:52)
I never realized how important it is, you know, to have that, you know, that program to, you know to advocate for the families and work with the families and make sure that the child is okay at home.

and that they're getting the proper care, the proper training. That program grew right in front of my eyes there, in front of our eyes. And then the expansion of the the hospital. You know, we were able to see that expansion. And and I think

And

and also, you know, what what other things happen, like Michelle is on this young advisory board and and this person is doing that, and my sister is volunteering and all these little things that happen that people go off on their own from

the result of a bunch of guys playing golf. You know, so I think that's what I'm proud of. And the money is, you know, is obviously the money is the key thing here and I'm proud of that. I you know, I'm I'm very proud of that. And the relationships that I've got with Blythedale the people that I've worked with there they're amazing. I mean really amazing people. And very anything I ask for they they say yes. So

I think you could see in front of your eyes

you know, all this money raised, it's going somewhere because when you go now there's a whole school. The school's amazing. When you walk through the classrooms, people don't even know that that I mean, it didn't exist, but people don't know it exists. it's you're walking through halls of a school. and same with the day program. even like

we we with the back with the advisory council we raise money on Giving Tuesday for like simple things that families might need. And some are like silly to a regular person. One one year we we raise money to get like draws, like plastic draw caddies,

Rebecca Solomon (24:54)
Mm-hmm.

carmine (24:54)
but people don't even think they have so much medicine and, you know, bandages and things like that that they just need at hand to move around their home.

So things like that really really make a difference in my eyes 'cause I see you know, I see it.

Rebecca Solomon (25:10)
And it does, it does, year after year. And think about the future of Blythedale. I mean, Michelle, you are the future of Blythedale You are so involved already, but following in your father's footsteps and the legacy that he's leaving, you no pressure or anything, but those are

carmine (25:29)
Ha ha ha.

Rebecca Solomon (25:30)
you know, you you got you got a bright future ahead at Blythedale And thank you in advance for all that, you know,

carmine (25:35)
Yeah.

Rebecca Solomon (25:36)
you I you and the council will continue to do.

Michelle, what are your hopes for the future of the Fall Golf Classic and for Blythedale Children's Hospital over the next ten to twenty years?

carmine (25:48)
well I hope for the golf classic it continues and you know, like my dad said, a lot of the people that golf are his friends, but you know, a lot of his friends have children my age or people that work underneath them my age. So I think it's just gonna continue and kind of go down the line. I don't think it's gonna be totally new friends or new customers. It's going to be the same group kind of going down to the younger generation if you'd say.

So yeah, I have high hopes for the golf classic and I mean, just for the advisory council, you know, we're always thinking of different events to raise money as well. We do an annual five K but we also do smaller events throughout the year as well. Yeah, I think what's important too is that we've I I said before that I was I kept the committee just a one person committee and everybody played golf was a friend of

mine, you know, or you know, you go down the list, it was all Carmine Lippolis and that bothered me. You know, that really bothered me. I just and then we brought in some other people. I'm a member of Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains and

you know, I have s a remarkable friends from the club and you know, I've gotten some of them on the board on the committee and I mean I'm telling you that what they have done is so we have a hybrid, not just only my f my people, but you know, they're bringing their people to it. And I think that's what's important. I think it can't be just, you know, just you know, all my connection. I think it's gotta be a hybrid of of of a a a group of people working together.

Rebecca Solomon (27:32)
I love that.

carmine (27:32)
It's not big enough though. It's you know, w we're not raising enough money. We have we have a lot of golfers but we're not raising enough money. And and you know, I'm happy every year, but I'm not happy enough. And so my goal is to I think for the future is to expand the committees and just raise more money, flat out raise more money.

Rebecca Solomon (27:58)
I love that. Thank you. And if someone listening to this episode has never supported Blythedale before, what would you want them to know about why this hospital is so special and why now is the right time to become part of its story?

carmine (28:13)
I think it's exciting times for Blythedale I think it's really exciting times. there's a new CEO, Nathaniel, and he's a spectacular human being. I've had so many conversations with him.

And he really impresses me and I think it's really a good time. I know they have certain capital projects down the road that they need to do.

it's not because it's like a you know, it's just a wish list, it's a necessity. You know, as as the hospital grows

you know, there's advancement in equipment and they need different equipment and you know, that's why, you know, they have to make certain capital investments and I you know, I think that's on the table and I think it's an exciting time.

I I really do. I I think it's gonna be the next, you know, journey with with the new CEO. I really feel that way and he's gonna do remarkable things. I know that

Rebecca Solomon (29:24)
Thank you for sharing that. And we look forward to having both you and Carmine and Michelle along for the ride. It's exciting to see what it's exciting to see what the future holds. All right. I have one more question to ask each of you. Same question. How would you describe the meaning of hope?

carmine (29:44)
Wow, can I get on Chat GPT right now? Yeah.

Rebecca Solomon (29:47)
Right. You don't need ChatGPT. You just spoke so beautifully for the last half an hour. I

you just continue to talk from your heart.

carmine (29:56)
Wow, meaning of hope. I think it's just continuing to be positive, con continuing what you're doing,

that you don't lose hope. I mean if you you know, every year, like you just said, he may think, maybe it's my last year. That would be losing some hope here. So I think just continuing what you're doing and not stopping. the meaning of hope. Wow.

I think is what it means is no matter how dark things get, and how maybe sick a child gets or how down a parent gets, some sort of faith or something, the hospital, the staff, that one doctor, that one staff member gives you hope. You know, I that's the way I look at it. that's how I live my life.

You know, that's that, you know, every day when it's dark, if it's dark that day, and y when you have a sick child, it gets dark. And you know, it's that faith you have, whether you pray, you know, whatever you do, whatever that faith is that gets you through those dark days and and and gives you hope.

Rebecca Solomon (31:17)
That's great. Well, thank you. And you both give us hope because of

carmine (31:20)
Mm-hmm.

Rebecca Solomon (31:21)
your support and just your hearts are huge. So thank you so much for taking time to share your stories and just everything you've done for us. We really appreciate it.

carmine (31:34)
Thank you.

Rebecca Solomon (31:35)
And we're excited for the fall golf classic and just for for all the good things to come, right?

carmine (31:41)
Yes, yes, we're very excited. This year was gonna be we have a lot of golfers and we're

we're we're trying to get there.

Rebecca Solomon (31:49)
We'll get there, no doubt, and it will be very exciting for sure. So this has been an awesome conversation. Thank you both. I hope everyone listening has enjoyed this episode of Journeys of Hope. Of course, if you have future ideas and topics we'd love to hear from you, go ahead and email us at podcast at blythale dot org. And don't forget to subscribe to our podcast and like and follow us on social media. Thank you so much, and we will see you next time.