Sarah DeFilippis

Sarah DeFilippis is co-Communications and Marketing Director of the Foundation alongside her colleague Beth Messina. Together, they lead the effort to generate awareness for the Foundation and to support our advocacy, development, and community-building work. She believes that storytelling in all of its forms is the key to informing, educating and inspiring people to action, and that brave storytelling is the highest form of communication.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Sarah founded a marketing consultancy specializing in brand and marketing strategy for for-profit and nonprofit clients. She also served as Chief Marketing and Engagement Officer at Connecticut Public (PBS/NPR) from 2016 to 2022. In that role, she and her team led the organization’s rebranding campaign and supported statewide community engagement, fundraising, and sponsorship initiatives.

Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College. She is mother to two amazing daughters and lives in West Hartford with her husband Tony and her dog Charlie. She is an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of Journey Home, which seeks to end homelessness in Greater Hartford.

Favorite Experience in Greater Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills

Local fairs and hiking in the autumn; getting inspired in springtime at White Flower Farm and summer ice cream at Arethusa Farms. Performances at the Warner Theater and Landmark Theater productions. I’m still exploring all that Waterbury and the Litchfield Hills has to offer.

Ask Sarah about

How to get involved in the Foundation’s good work; gardening (and gardening fails!), travel and crazy dog stories.