Live on WFSB | Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
How to take part: Watch, share, and donate during the live telethon.
An hour of community, compassion, and action honoring the life and legacy of Denise D'Ascenzo.
The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation Telethon is an annual live broadcast on WFSB dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Denise D'Ascenzo. During this special hour, our community comes together to celebrate the values Denise lived by — courage, kindness, compassion, and responsibility — while raising vital support for the work of the Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation.
The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation Telethon on WFSB (Channel 3)
Real Impact in Our Community
Funds raised during the telethon support organizations whose work reflects the foundation’s mission:
Advancing Medicine & Health — including support for programs through the Connecticut Children’s Foundation and Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, serving children and families facing serious medical challenges
Supporting Those Facing Physical & Mental Challenges — resources and advocacy through groups such as the Down Syndrome Association of Connecticut and the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter
Strengthening Responsibility, Dignity & Opportunity — empowerment and professional development through Dress for Success Hartford, helping women build independence and confidence
Extending Compassion & Kindness Across the Community — essential support efforts such as hunger relief through Connecticut Foodshare, assisting families in times of need
Every donation helps expand the reach of organizations doing vital work every day — extending Denise’s spirit of helping others throughout the community.
The Children’s Tumor Foundation receives a $4,600 donation from The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation.
About Denise
Denise D'Ascenzo was known not only as a trusted news anchor on WFSB, but for the way she showed up in the world — with warmth, grace, strength, and genuine care for others. She believed in helping people, lifting up her community, and leading with kindness.
The Denise D’Ascenzo Foundation was created to carry forward the values that guided her life: supporting advances in medicine and health, assisting those facing physical and mental challenges, promoting responsibility in the media, and encouraging openness, courage, and kindness.
The telethon is one way her spirit continues to make a difference — bringing people together to help others, just as she did every day.
Telethon History & Funds Raised
The Telethon has become a meaningful annual tradition, bringing the community together to honor Denise’s legacy and support mission-aligned organizations across Connecticut.
Together, past telethons have:
Raised well over $150,000 to support organizations advancing health, care, and community wellbeing
Funded grants to nonprofits serving children, families, and individuals facing physical and mental challenges
Strengthened programs providing medical support, grief services, empowerment initiatives, and essential community care
Expanded the foundation’s ability to carry forward Denise’s values of openness, courage, kindness, and responsibility
Each year builds on the last — growing awareness, community involvement, and impact.