Rotary Club of Verrazano raises money for life-saving heart surgery

Fashion show, charity auction helps support ‘gift of life’

March 12, 2018 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Gift of Life President Francesco DiMarco with Rotary Club of Verrazano member Ralph Succar. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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The Rotary Club of Verrazano held its 22nd annual Fashion Show on Friday, March 2 in Coney Island.

This year’s event, billed as the “Proud as a Peacock” charity auction, also marked the 40th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Verrazano. It was a night filled with music, food, fun, furs and fashion as more than 400 guests had the opportunity to bid on gifts and buy raffles to help raise money for pediatric cardiac surgery.

Community leader and Rotary Club member Ralph Succar told the Brooklyn Eagle that “everything revolves around kids.”

Succar explained that the Rotary Club of Verrazano raised the money in conjunction with the Gift of Life, an organization that believes that every child deserves a second chance at life. This year they sponsored two young boys who arrived from Kosovo on Feb. 10 and stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. They received life-saving surgery on Wednesday, Feb. 28 at St. Francis Hospital on Long Island.

Rotary Club members Ralph Succar, Michael Iacobucci, Joe Speziale and Ben Truncali.

“Every minute 258 children are born in the world and one percent are born with a congenital heart defect,” said Rotary Club member Carl Campagna. “Eighty-five percent are born in developing countries where they don’t have access to the proper medical procedures or the right kind of medicine.”

Francesco DiMarco, president of Gift of Life, and a member of the Rotary Club, explained that his organization along with the Rotary Club of Verrazano fully sponsors these children.

“Next Thursday, these two boys are going to go back home to Kosovo brand new,” DiMarco said. “And they are going to remember us. They’ve been taking pictures and videos to remember everyone who helped make them well. They will have normal lives and for us it will be a very sweet memory.”

The boys, 10-year-old Donart Ahmeti and 12-year-old Faik Isufi were all smiles enjoying the event. “Thank you for everything you did for us and for saving our lives,” Ahmeti said. Both expressed hope they could return to America in the future.

Children attend 22nd annual Rotary Club of Verrazano fashion show.

DiMarco presented each boy with a brand new iPad. “Not only are you going to remember us,” added DiMarco, “But I’m going to give you the tool to stay in touch with your friends here in the United States with this gift from the Verrazano Rotary Club.”

This was not an awards presentation, but rather a fashion show and prize raffle focused on the needs of the children. The coats and outfits being modeled were by Hyman Kersner & Sons with proceeds going to the charity.

Among the notable civic leaders attending the event were departing 68th Precinct Commanding Officer Joseph W. Hayward and incoming C.O. Robert Conwell, who is moving over from the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush, where he served as executive officer. Hayward is going to Coney Island where he will command the 60th Precinct.

The Rotary Club of Verrazano is one of more than 30,000 rotary clubs in 160 countries worldwide. They work to help feed the hungry, procure open heart surgeries for children overseas and support a variety of local projects.

Succar explained the Rotary Club’s motto is “Service Above Self.”

“That means it’s all about the service that we provide for others,” Succar said. “It’s not about us.”