Buoniconti Named CMN Chairman

SPRINGFIELD – State Sen. Stephen Buoniconti has been named chairman of the 2005 Children’s Miracle Network Telethon at Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital, which will be broadcast June 4-5 from 3 to 6 p.m. each day over WWLP-TV22.

“It is a great honor to be part of this year’s telethon because I know and understand firsthand the devastating impact a diagnosis can have on families who have a sick youngster,” said Buoniconti, who represents the Hampden district. “Our five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with spinal muscle atrophy by a pediatric neurologist at Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital when she was just nine months old.”

A former Hampden County prosecutor, Buoniconti served in the state House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004 before being elected to the Massachusetts State Senate last year. Active in his hometown of West Springfield, he formerly served as an elected member of the School Committee, Recreation Commission, and Town Meeting.

Heartwarming stories about the many “miracle” children treated at Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital will again highlight this year’s 19th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon.