On Tuesday night, Handprints for Sunshine hosted a pumpkin painting event and partnered with the Quinnipiac University Autism Alliance, which sold candygrams to fundraise for the organization.
President of Handprints for Sunshine, Francesca Marchiano, said the event is important to offer support to children fighting cancer, “children of all abilities, ages, and health statuses,” the elderly and patients in hospitals.
Francesca Marchiano, Julia Jennings and Gabi Ventura set up the event. Photo by Kalleen Ozanic. 
Pakeeza Hussain picks out a pumpkin.Photo by Kalleen Ozanic. 
Maia Radcliffe covers her pumpkin in green. Photo by Kalleen Ozanic. 
Olivia Ciavattoni gives her pumpkin purple stripes. Photo by Kalleen Ozanic. 
Olivia Ruschioni gives her pumpkin a spooky face. Photo by Kalleen Ozanic. 
Abigail Crowell paints her pumpkin with stripes and dots. Photo by Kalleen Ozanic.
“We try to give back to being there, mostly for kids, but we’re trying to reach out to the elderly as well,” Marchiano said.
The event was led by Marchiano as well as Handprints for Sunshine’s public relations chair Julia Jennings, treasurer Lauren Dooley, hospital relations chair Gabi Ventura and founder of the alliance, Evan Gundling.
Students who participated in the event could choose to keep their pumpkins or let Handprints for Sunshine donate them.
Ventura said that Handprints for Sunshine has not yet coordinated with a hospital or other organization to donate the pumpkins, but the organization is working on forming a partnership.
