By Richard Kaufman
After working up an down the Northeast for the better part of two decades, Noël Appel is back home in Connecticut.
On March 19, Appel began her new position as Vice President and Chief Development Officer of the Greenwich Hospital Foundation.
Prior to coming to Greenwich, Appel was the VP of Development and Alumni Relations at The New School in Manhattan, where she oversaw major gift fundraising for four of the university’s schools.
Previously, she had been the Associate Dean of Development at the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University, in Boston, Mass., and Assistant VP of Development at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn., where she worked for 15 years.
Appel brings over 20 years of experience to the Greenwich Hospital Foundation, which works to secure the financial resources the hospital needs in order to provide advanced and safe medical care to those in Connecticut and New York.
“I’m most excited to be here. I have a long history of living in [Connecticut]. It’s nice to be back home working,” she said.
Appel got her feet wet in February, working a few Fridays to get acclimated to her new role. She said the exposure was extremely valuable prior to her official start date in March.
“That was wonderful because it really gave me a chance to get a handle on the activity here and all the things that are going on and to meet my team,” she said.
In her short time in Greenwich so far, Appel said she has learned quickly what makes Greenwich Hospital and its foundation click.
“Just how devoted [the medical staff is] to the experience for our patients is so beautiful to see,” she added. “And, of course, being able to see the community that supports us externally, both the incredible volunteers and philanthropically; it’s very strong, very powerful and it’s inspiring.”
Appel hopes to support hospital CEO and President, Norman Roth, as well as the board of trustees going forward in order to advance the work they’ve already done, but also to build upon it.
“I think there’s great opportunity to really grow and make it possible for people to participate [with the hospital] in ways they want to,” she said.
The hospital and foundation staff are currently preparing for the upcoming Under the Stars 2018 event, which takes place on June 22 at the Riverside Yacht Club. The benefit raises funds to support women’s and children’s health at Greenwich Hospital. This year’s honoree will be Dr. Patricia Cayalag, the Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
DJ April Larken and local cover band, The Short Bus, will perform, along with headliner Caroline Jones.
“There’s a lot of excitement,” Appel said of the upcoming benefit. “What’s very intriguing to me about it is just what kind of momentum the event has, with a tremendous audience of volunteers.”
Appel noted that she has a lot of prior experience in events, and that her primary role in helping prepare for the event will involve continuously working with the volunteers.
“In my position, it’s to be in a very complimentary, supportive role to the members of the staff here who have been doing the work, and giving them everything they need to be successful and working right alongside of them,” she said.
Appel said what she enjoys the most so far about her new job is understanding the work of the hospital and the people it serves, and then the idea of being able to tie that aspect to the important relationships that need to be built with members and potential hospital partners.
“It excites me a great deal to deeply understand the work of the hospital while simultaneously conveying that to new friends, colleagues and building those relationships to encourage that philanthropy,” she said.
But most of all, Appel is impressed with the passion and the long history of support the Greenwich community has had with the Greenwich Hospital Foundation.
“I’m humbled by it,” she said.
