FAIRFIELD, CT (Aug. 10, 2026) – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) New England Properties is proud to share that agent Anthony Capalbo and his family have been named the first-ever recipients of SmartMLS Cares, a new charitable giving program established by the SmartMLS Board of Directors. The program will gift a donation to their Charlie Capalbo Memorial Fund, which supports pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) studies in the lab of acclaimed researcher Dr. Scott Armstrong at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, among numerous other vital, related initiatives. The Fund also benefits from the Bank of America Capalbo Strong Walk, an annual fundraising event held each October.
The Charlie Capalbo Memorial Fund was established by Anthony and his wife, Jenny, in tribute to their son, Charlie Capalbo of Fairfield – a standout hockey goalie – who tragically passed away in April 2022 after a five-year battle with cancer, just a month shy of his 24th birthday. Charlie fought and beat cancer three times, facing both Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and leukemia, with a resilience that moved an entire community. Alongside Charlie’s brother, Will, the Capalbo family has continued to carry his legacy forward.
SmartMLS is Connecticut’s primary multiple listing service, connecting more than 20,000 real estate agents, brokers, and appraisers across the state with real-time property listings, market data, and public records. SmartMLS Cares was created by the organization’s Board, influenced directly by Charlie’s story and the extraordinary impact one family can have on an entire community. Through the program, SmartMLS will now support 10 members each year with a donation toward the community causes and charitable efforts that matter most to them. Capalbo, a longtime SmartMLS subscriber, and his family are the program’s inaugural honorees.
“This means more to our family than words can really capture,” said Anthony Capalbo. “Charlie taught all of us what it means to fight with grace, and to keep showing up for others no matter what. Knowing that his story helped inspire a program that will support other families and causes each year, on top of our own, means his legacy keeps reaching people we may never even meet. That’s exactly what he would have wanted.”
Today’s announcement reflects how far Capalbo Strong has grown since its grassroots beginnings. Founded in 2017 by a group of Fairfield Prep hockey moms during Charlie’s first battle with cancer, Capalbo Strong began as an effort to rally around him and his family. What started as a show of community support has since become a broader mission, anchored by an annual charity walk. For years, that walk took place in Boston as part of the Jimmy Fund Walk, raising funds for the family’s own Charlie Capalbo Memorial Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Capalbo Strong has also recently applied for nonprofit status – a milestone that will allow the organization to expand its reach beyond Dana-Farber, awarding grants to local hospitals, programs, and organizations that supported Charlie and the Capalbo family throughout their journey. Donations like the one from SmartMLS Cares will help sustain that work going forward.
“Anthony and Jenny have turned unimaginable loss into something that will help other families navigate similar pain and hardship,” said Brenda Maher, President of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England/New York/Hudson Valley Properties. “The fact that Charlie’s life prompted SmartMLS to create an entirely new program in his honor speaks to the impact this family has had far beyond Fairfield. We’re honored to call Anthony a member of our team, and we stand behind him and his family as they continue this crucial work.”
This year, the Bank of America Capalbo Strong Walk will take place closer to home, moving from Boston – home to Dana-Farber – to Jennings Beach in Fairfield on October 4. The shift reflects Capalbo Strong’s expanding reach and its commitment to making the event more accessible to the community that has long supported the family – allowing friends, neighbors, and supporters who couldn’t travel to Boston to take part in honoring Charlie’s memory. The 24K (15-mile) looped course allows participants to join for as little as one five-mile lap or the full distance. BHHS New England Properties encourages agents, colleagues, and clients across its network to consider registering or contributing in support of the walk and Capalbo Strong’s continued mission.
“Anthony’s dedication, and what he and his family are doing for others in the face of such adversity, is a powerful reminder of the compassion our agents bring not just to their clients, but to the communities they call home,” Maher added. “Real estate is built on relationships, and time and again, our agents show that the best of this industry isn’t just about transactions, it’s about showing up for people…especially in life’s hardest moments.”
To support the Charlie Capalbo Memorial Fund or register for the Capalbo Strong Walk, visit CapalboStrong.org.
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About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties/New York Properties/Hudson Valley Properties
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties/New York Properties/Hudson Valley Properties is a leading real estate brokerage firm with more than 2,200 REALTORS® in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Manhattan, Westchester, NY and Hudson Valley, NY. Selectively chosen by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and HomeServices of America; global reach, financial strength and fresh brand make the brokerage the premiere real estate firm in the Northeast. Whether it’s residential, commercial, corporate relocation, equestrian or waterfront living, our company and REALTORS® are local market experts committed to providing exceptional service to our clients. For more information, visit www.bhhsNEproperties.com, www.bhhsNYproperties.com and www.bhhshudsonvalley.com.