About Us

Mission Statement

Healing Hearts Adaptive Recreation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides social and recreational programs for children, teens, and young adults with special needs to foster friendships, promote fitness, and support independence. 

Serving Lower Fairfield County

Bridgeport, Darien, Easton, Fairfield, Greenwich, Monroe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Stratford, Trumbull, Weston, Westport, Wilton

Meet the Board of Directors

Kim Colletto

Kimberly Colletto

Executive Director
Kimberly is the co-founder of Healing Hearts Recreational and the co-oowner of BreakThru Fitness where Healing Hearts is housed. She has been a certified Personal Trainer for over 25 years starting her career at the Stamford Jewish Community Center. She specializes in working with adults and children of all abilities and a wide array of special needs.
John Russo

John Russo

President
John has been involved with Healing Hearts since 2019 when he was looking for a physical trainer for his daughter, Sara. He found Kim Colletto at BreakThru Fitness. Kim introduced John and Sara to the Healing Hearts program. It turned out to be a good match for Sara who was lacking physical exercise and social interaction in her life. Kim and Healing Hearts have been a welcome addition in raising the quality of Sara's life. John enjoys volunteering at Friday Club Night. John has a career in the construction industry in the Stamford area for the past 44 years. He was a past executive board member at ARI of CT for many years and continues to support them. After graduating from Stamford Catholic High School, John continued his education at UCONN in Stamford and Sacred Heart University Bridgeport.
Tom Bacha

Tom Bacha

Member at Large
Tom is the co-owner of BreakThru Fitness where Healing Hearts is housed and co-founder of Healing Hearts Recreational. Tom is also Lead Instructor and Owner of Connecticut Krav Maga LLC which has multiple CT locations, one of which is centered at BreakThru Fitness. Tom has been in the Martial Arts industry for over 30 years and has a passion for working with both adults and kids of all abilities. He has been featured in local news for many years helping to reinforce Law Enforcement, Correctional Personnel, and women's self-defense rights and programs.
BaiDing

Bai Ding

Member at Large
Bai has been involved with Healing Hearts since 2019. Bai worked in the financial industry as a risk/data analyst for many years. When her son was very young, she began full-time to help her son dealing with educational and medical issues. Bai believes every student deserves a good life.
Joanne Gerardi

Joanne Gerardi

Vice President
Joanne has been involved with Healing Hearts since 2013. She first served as the Program Director, then a volunteer, and more recently as a Board Member. She started her devotion to individuals with special needs as a young girl. Due to her uncle and cousin, who both had special needs, Joanne decided to become a Special Education Teacher. She continued her education and received a Master's Degree in Special Education. Joanne is certified in both New York and Connecticut and is currently a Special Education teacher at New Canaan High School.