Every day, our team has the privilege of helping Connecticut's most recognized organizations get noticed. But every once in a while, a project reminds us that the work we do is about something bigger than signage. Recently, Hartford HealthCare's Department of Philanthropy honored our family with a feature story, "Signs of Something Bigger: The Rappoccio Family's Story of Visibility, Values, and Generosity."

We were humbled to be recognized, and we wanted to take a moment to share why giving back to our community—and to Hartford HealthCare in particular—means so much to all of us here at Sign Pro.

A True Partnership with Hartford HealthCare

If you've traveled through Connecticut lately, you've probably noticed that Hartford HealthCare seems to be everywhere. We're proud to play a behind-the-scenes role in that visibility. From channel letters to wayfinding to large-scale architectural signage, our team helps one of the state's most trusted brands stay front and center for the patients and families who count on it.

"Our job is to make people look good at what they do, to help them achieve," says our co-founder Pete Rappoccio. "We have a passion for doing what we do for people who appreciate it. With Hartford HealthCare, we couldn't ask for better partners." You can see more of this work on our Hartford HealthCare featured project page.

Supporting HHC 2035 and the Future of Emergency Care

Our relationship with Hartford HealthCare reaches well beyond the signs we build. We recently made a major gift in support of HHC 2035—specifically, the future expansion of Hartford Hospital's Emergency Department. For us, the decision came down to one simple question: where can we help the most?

"It's been very inspiring to see their vision, to see future plans for Hartford Hospital," shares our co-founder Suzanne Rappoccio. "We are happy to be a part of a great organization." As a Hartford HealthCare Corporate Philanthropy Partner and one of its largest in-kind supporters, we're also honored to help bring philanthropic events to life—from the Black & Red gala to golf fundraisers—through custom signage and event design.

An Honor for Our Founder, Pete Rappoccio

In 2024, Hartford Hospital named Pete its inaugural Corporator of the Year—a recognition of more than three decades of partnership, generosity, and genuine belief in the hospital's mission. You can read more about that milestone in our post, Peter Rappoccio Honored as Hartford Hospital's First Corporator of the Year.

"You always want to improve on things, and that's the type of culture Jeff Flaks and his leadership team promote," Pete says. "It's very inspiring to us, because we try to lead the same way. A gift like this keeps the fire burning—I'm very excited for the future and for working side by side with Hartford HealthCare."

Why Does a Connecticut Sign Company Give Back?

It's a fair question, and the answer is woven into who we are. Sign Pro has been a family-owned business in Plantsville, Connecticut since 1990. The same community that helped us grow over the past 35-plus years is the community we're proud to support today—whether that's a hospital, a local police department, a charitable golf tournament, or a neighborhood nonprofit. Giving back isn't a marketing campaign for us; it's simply part of how a family business says thank you.

If you'd like to see more of the causes and organizations we're proud to stand behind, take a look at Giving Back to the Community – A Sign Pro Snapshot and explore our work across the healthcare industry.

Partner with a Connecticut sign company that cares about your story. Whether you're a hospital system, a growing business, or a nonprofit with a message to share, we'd be honored to help you increase your visibility and strengthen your brand. Contact our Plantsville, CT team to start your next project—and together, let's create something bigger.