M.J. Petretto will be forever grateful that her nephew survived a near-fatal accident and received life-changing therapy for a spinal cord injury, thanks to Gaylord Specialty Healthcare of Wallingford. The incident inspired her to give back in a big way – in 2009, M.J. established the M.J. Petretto Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) with the mission of funding local organizations that support education, health, and quality of life to build stronger Connecticut communities. In addition to Gaylord Specialty, M.J.’s foundation has supported Guilford’s VNA community Healthcare’s Parkinson’s exercise classes and caregiver support group, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Connecticut, and Connecticut’s Community Food Bank Children’s Backpack program. As an individual and local businessperson, M.J. is also a frequent contributor Guilford Food Bank and Guilford A Better Chance (ABC) programs. The success of the program alone wasn’t the sole reason for one of her nominations, howeve – her nominator spoke of M.J.’s personal commitment to the cause: “The amount of time she selflessly donates to the foundation is genuinely heart driven; for nothing less could endure the work.”