ECHO featured in Staten Island Advance

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mark your calendars for Saturday, at which time Pelletier Salon and Spa over in Charleston will play host to a Cut-A-Thon, at which a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Emergency Children’s Help Organization (E.C.H.O.).

The event is set to run from noon until 5 p.m. On offer will be games of chance, including a 50/50 raffle, as well as an opportunity to win a spa package and other prizes and specials.

For those who are unfamiliar with E.C.H.O., the organization, pledged to assist children with special needs and their families, it was founded in 2008 by Annadale resident Sebastian Angelico, president of Savant USA Ltd. Its mission is to accumulate funds to be used to promote the welfare of children whose future is grim due to a serious emergency, medical or otherwise.

E.C.H.O. offers monetary assistance to help ease the financial burden and hopefully “put a smile on the child’s face.” In order to qualify, applicants must be Staten Island residents, 18 or younger. To date, the organization has provided assistance to more than two dozen children and their families and continues with its promise to reach out to those in need.

The organization, which serves Staten Islanders and New Jerseyans, offers support to families that otherwise would be denied help because of inability to pay.

FYI: Donations are possible through the dedication of the organization’s board of directors and individuals who offer monetary assistance. Note that Pelletier Salon and Spa is located at 2955 Veterans Rd. West, Suite 2I, just across from Target in the South Shore Commons Shopping Center.

To reserve, or for additional information, telephone the salon at 718-984-8440.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- It’s quite clear that members of ECHO, the Emergency Children’s Health Organization, really know how to throw a party — and even better, raise mega-funds for the newly established charity dedicated to assisting children with special needs and their families.

This mission of the organization, which serves Staten Islanders and New Jerseyans, is to accumulate resources to be used to benefit the welfare of a child whose future is bleak due to the existence of a serious health, medical or living emergency. ECHO will offer monetary assistance to help ease the financial burden and, it’s hoped, put a smile on the face of a child.

Cheers to the ECHO executive board, whose creative imagination was responsible for the high-style soiree staged last Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn, the Bloomfield venue where nearly 300 revelers whiled the night away and shared in a “Night of Chance” cocktail reception with amazing giveaways: A $5,000 door prize, a Louis Vuitton handbag, an evening at the Hilton Garden Inn, including an overnight stay, 50/50 and money tree raffles, and lotto and other incredible prizes.

And because an awesome affair is also about good food and music, food and cocktails flowed — and the party popped with the diversified sounds of E-Squared Entertainment, the dynamic deejay company that took locals through the decades — as well as providing them with a sampling of the top 40.

But there was a poignant side to the evening as well. In speaking about the organization’s goals, philanthropy and humanitarianism, executive board member Paul Dapolito III lauded Stephanie Singer-Barnas, the daughter of board member Michael Singer, for her unwavering support and dedication to ECHO — and on behalf of the board presented her with a plaque.

Kudos, then, to executive board members Sebastian Angelico, chairman; the above-mentioned Paul Dapolito, III, vice chairman; Joseph DiGiso, secretary; Pat Gambaro, treasurer, and members at large Robert Felice, Nicholas Marone and the aforementioned Michael Singer.

Also coming in for plaudits is Richard Nicotra, director of the Nicotra Group and the owner of the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hampton Inn and Suites, for his kindness to the ECHO organization.

We have learned that the most recent Staten Island family to benefit from ECHO was presented with gift certificates to CVS Pharmacy in order to cover the costs of their child’s ongoing prescription needs — and others have been recipients of gift certificates to supermarkets, as well as clothing stores. What’s more, specialized medical equipment, beds and high chairs have been donated to families in need.

Since the inception of the organization in 2008, ECHO has distributed more than $75,000 in grants to needy local families. For additional information about ECHO, visit www.EchoOrganization.org. or telephone 718-967-9086.

The Emergency Children's Help Organization (E.C.H.O.) will host "A Night of Appreciation" dinner/dance (business attire) on Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m., at Eagle Oaks Golf & Country Club, 20 Shore Oaks Drive, Farmingdale, N.J. Tickets are $150. For more information/reservations, call 866-755-ECHO.

There will be a live auction featuring items such as: a trip to Aruba and a fishing boat trip. Various raffles, 50/50 and a money tree will also be available.

Honorees for the evening are:

David M. Herzog, M.D., who has a private practice in obstetrics and gynecology with offices in Bulls Head and Brooklyn.

Dominic and Tracy Minervini of Nutley, N.J., former board members who have volunteered many hours to numerous other charitable organizations.

The proceeds of the dinner/dance will assist E.C.H.O. in its mission to benefit the welfare of a child with serious health, medical or living emergency.

Since 2008, the organization has provided aid such as the purchase of a high-back Rifton wheelchair for an 8-year-old and a special bed for a 4-year-old, and funded a 7-year-old's travel expenses to an out-of-state hospital for treatment.

There's still time to reserve tickets to the Emergency Children's Help Organization's "Heart to Heart Gala," a cocktail buffet on deck for Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Vanderbilt on the South Beach Boardwalk. The mega-event will honor Rep. Michael McMahon, state Sen. Andrew J. Lanza and City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore). Tickets are $125. Business attire is preferred. Those interested in donating to ECHO or in learning more about how they can help the organization should telephone 866-755-ECHO (3246). ECHO, the Emergency Children's Help Organization, a newly established charity, is pledged to assist children with special needs and their families. The organization, which serves Staten Islanders and New Jerseyans, offers support to families that otherwise would be denied help because of inability to pay. Since it began eight months ago, the organization already has contributed funds to families in need. Donations are possible through the organization's board of directors and individuals.

ECHO, the Emergency Children's Help Organization, a newly established charity, is pledged to assist children with special needs and their families.

The organization, which serves Staten Islanders and New Jerseyans, offers support to families that otherwise would be denied help because of inability to pay.

Sebastian Angelico, the organization's founder, points out that since its inception seven months ago, ECHO already has contributed to several families and continues with its promise to reach out to those in need. Their mission: To accumulate resources to be used to benefit the welfare of children whose future may otherwise be bleak due to the existence of serious health, medical or living emergencies.

FYI: Donations are possible through the dedication of the organization's board of directors and individuals who offer monetary assistance with the hope of uplifting spirits and putting a smile on a child's face.

On Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m., ECHO will host a cocktail buffet "Heart to Heart Gala" at the Vanderbilt on the South Beach Boardwalk. The mega-event will honor state Sen. Andrew J. Lanza and City Councilmen James Oddo (R-Mid-Island/Brooklyn) and Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore).

Tickets are priced at $125 per person. Business attire is preferred.

It should be noted that the organization's commemorative souvenir journal will be a source of revenue for ECHO. In addition to journal ads, the organization is asking for sponsorship donations -- and board members hope that locals will be as generous as they can be.

Those interested in donating to ECHO or in learning more about how they can help the organization should telephone 866-755-ECHO (3246).

Folks are still buzzing about ECHO's inaugural fund-raiser, the lavish cocktail reception staged at the Vanderbilt at South Beach. And we just couldn't let any more time go by without giving you a peek at locals who helped make the evening such a great success.

The event was hosted by Sebastian Angelico, the organization's founder and supporter of myriad charitable organizations, including those that assist the elderly and children. And Angelico has taken on an extraordinary board of directors, who have worked tirelessly to support the cause.

We should tell you that ECHO, an acronym of Emergency Children's Help Organization, is a newly established not-for-profit comprising dedicated individuals eager to offer assistance to children with special needs and their families.

The organization includes chapters on Staten Island and in New Jersey -- and offers support to youngsters who otherwise would be denied help because of financial burden. ECHO will offer monetary assistance with the hope of brightening spirits.

Revelers joining in the merrymaking on the debut evening included actor Carmine Giovinazzo, who hails from Staten Island and is a star on the CBS series "CSI: New York," as well as politicos and dignitaries.

ECHO officers and executives include: Sebastian Angelico, chairman; Paul Dapolito III, vice chairman; Joseph DiGiso, secretary; Pat Gambaro, treasurer; Nicholas Marone, Charles Contino and Robert Felice.

In conjunction with its first-ever fundraiser at The Vanderbilt, South Beach, the Emergency Children's Health Organization last night presented a grant to the family of a child in need.

Sebastian Angelico, the chairman and founder of ECHO, presented a check to Anthony Crimeni, whose 12-year-old, also named Anthony, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Crimeni family was the first to write to ECHO about their skyrocketing medical expenses; their son is undergoing treatment in Mount Sinai Hospital.

More than 375 people attended the cocktail party fundraiser, including a special appearance by actor and native Staten Islander Carmine Giovanazzo of the CBS series "CSI: NY."

"Being from Staten Island, I'm glad I could help bring some attention to it," Giovanazzo said. "My mom keeps a lookout for things on the East Coast. I always look out for kids, so (helping with) this just made sense."

The newly formed not-for-profit works to help children "whose future is bleak due to a serious health, medical or living emergency," according to its mission statement.

"Through a grant application process it is our goal to help as many families as we can who are in dire need," said Mr. Angelico in his speech. "This is what has been the driving force that motivated me to create ECHO."

Tenor and former New York City policeman Danny Rodgriguez sang an operatic rendition of "God Bless America."

The evening featured a live auction of prizes such as a trip to Aruba and tickets to see the play Jersey Boys to raise money for the organization. Raffle tickets were also sold for prize baskets ranging from sports memorabilia to children's gifts.

Also scheduled to attend last night were Rep. Vito Fossella (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), City Councilman Vincent Ignizio (R-South Shore), Surrogate Judge Robert Gigante and former Mets player and coach Joe Pignatano.

Several weeks ago, we introduced you to ECHO, the Emergency Children's Help Organization, a newly established not-for-profit charity comprising dedicated individuals eager to offer assistance to children with special needs and their families. The organization will offer support to youngsters whose families are in financial straits.

We also connected you to Sebastian Angelico, the organization's founder, who has assembled a diverse and effective board of directors.

We should tell you that it's still not too late to attend ECHO's inaugural fundraiser -- a lavish cocktail reception -- set for Thursday evening, July 24, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Vanderbilt at South Beach. The event will formally announce the new charity, which includes chapters on Staten Island and in New Jersey.

FYI: Carmine Giovinazzo, the popular actor who portrays Detective Danny Messer in "CSI: New York," one of the hottest suspense thrillers on television (it airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on CBS/Ch. 2) will attend the event. The Mariners Harbor native sizzles in his role -- it's no wonder he's touted as one of the "Sexiest Men Alive." Giovinazzo, an avid athlete who has appeared in more than 10 films, also is a musician who composes and heads his own band, called Cessau.

Getting back to the organization: Angelico himself has long been a supporter of varied charitable organizations, including those directed toward the elderly, the ill and, of course, children. His desire to help children -- and those who are unable to help themselves -- is the driving force behind the newly formed project.

Note that the organization's mission is to accumulate resources to be used to benefit the welfare of a child whose future may otherwise be bleak due to the existence of a serious health, medical or living emergency. ECHO will offer monetary assistance with the hope of uplifting spirits and putting a smile on a child's face.

Officers and executive committee members include: Sebastian Angelico, chairman; Paul Dapolito III, vice chairman; Joseph DiGiso, secretary; Pat Gambaro, treasurer; Nicholas Marone, member-at-large, Charles Contrino, member-at-large, and Robert Felice, member-at-large.

Those interested in attending the event or in donating to the charity should contact Denise at 866-755-ECHO. Be there!

 

The organization will offer support to youngsters who otherwise would be denied help because of financial burden.

Sebastian Angelico, the organization's founder, has assembled a diverse board of directors, whose unquestionable motivation and agenda will serve as an invaluable tool in achieving their goal.

Angelico himself has long been a supporter of varied charitable organizations, including those directed toward the elderly, the ill and, of course, children.

His desire to help children -- and those who are unable to help themselves -- is the driving force behind the newly formed project.

"When I read about a child in need of a particular surgery or procedure that will help or cure that child, and learn that the family cannot afford the cost incurred in order to proceed, that's where I believe ECHO will be able to help," Angelico said.

The organization's mission is to accumulate resources to be used to benefit the welfare of a child, whose future may otherwise be bleak due to the existence of a serious health, medical or living emergency. ECHO will offer monetary assistance with the hope of uplifting spirits and putting a smile on a child's face.

Officers and executive committee members include: Sebastian Angelico, chairman; Paul Dapolito III, vice chairman; Joseph DiGiso, secretary; Pat Gambaro, treasurer; Nicholas Marone, member-at-large, Charles Contrino, member-at-large, and Robert Felice, member-at-large.

An inaugural fund-raiser -- a cocktail reception to announce the new charity with chapters on Staten Island and New Jersey, is set for Thursday, July 24, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Vanderbilt at South Beach.

Those interested in attending the event or in donating to the charity should contact Denise at 866-755-ECHO.