Everyone's child....

Sunday, February 15, 2009 was a day anticipated, yet bittersweet. An event we hoped would be successful, for a child in a dire situation.


We have so many people to thank for this extremely wonderful day! Our core team, who is listed to the left of this blog, worked effortlessly for a common goal and their hard work paid off as people came together from near and far to eat, drink and celebrate "our" child, Jessica! They were able to gather 117 baskets for the Chinese Auction and another 11 for the "big ticket" prizes to make many winning guests very happy! The generosity of those individuals and businesses who contributed is only a small piece in the story of this community, and we thank them all for their generosity.


Jeff Politano of Direct Mail Marketing & Mike Tarantino of Image Marketing got us started with mailers and flyers. Knightline Embroidery did a wonderful job with our "Jessica is Our Hero" T-shirts. And then Sam & Donna Santisi of Santisi's Institutional Foods in Youngstown really got the ball rolling with their extreme giving nature.


But before all that, Myron & Renee Esposito and Ray Ragozzine generously allowed us to have the event at The IFH Club! Not only that, but the best guys ever found in one Club took charge with the setup, cleanup AND cooking for the event! Our "family" grew ten-fold in a very short period of time!


Now any event would not be an event if no one came....and come they did.....as almost 900 people attended our Dinner to support our family, and to this we will be forever grateful! It truly was an amazing time! Laughter was abundant, the food was fabulous (thanks guys!) and everyone had a great time trying to decide which baskets to try and win!!! And don't forget the Bake Sale! We had so many donations and such a variety! Everyone could lay claim to being Betty Crocker for a day if they took some home!!

Throughout the day I kept using the word "overwhelming".....yet this is just not a strong enough term. The love and support that surrounded us all is something that will warm my heart as long as it beats. For as many people that came that I knew, they were just as many whom I did not. They came out for Jessica. And many had never even met her. But on this day she became "everyone's child" as they gathered with the hopes of helping her future become a healthy reality.