This year, Brooklyn’s Genie Foundation
has chosen the non-profit Leave Out ViolencE (LOVE) as the beneficiary
of its biannual fundraiser, to be held at Gargiulo’s Restaurant
in Coney Island on Aug. 1.
Tempting ticket-buyers with a reception, dinner and dancing to
tunes spun by Classie Sounds at the restaurant on West 15th Street,
the founders of the Genie Foundation – President Lorraine Tozzo,
Vice President Nino Russo, Treasurer Denise Vitale, Secretary
Tracey Shankman and Assistant Treasurer Rosanne Macrina – hope
to raise a lot of clams in Coney Island.
"We’re five friends who have known each other for 20 years
who have a good following of friends who just want to give back
to the community," Tozzo explained of the Genie Foundation’s
genesis.
"This year, an agency from Canada [LOVE] is coming to New
York and needs startup money," said Tozzo. "We felt
it was an interesting program and didn’t see anything similar
in New York, and we felt we needed it."
According to their mission statement, LOVE is dedicated to "reducing
violence in the lives of youth and in our communities by building
a team of youth spokespeople who will communicate a message of
non-violence. LOVE youth are a multicultural group between the
ages of 13 and 18 whose lives have been burdened by violence,
either as victims, perpetrators and/or witnesses."
Tozzo was impressed by the organization’s structure.
"LOVE has this three-step program where they get these kids
through schools or off the streets and get them to channel anger
through photography and writing and those kids then go out and
become counselors themselves," she said.
"It’s a very big issue and their program is so different.
No one in New York City is doing it."
Tozzo said her 501-C(3) foundation carefully screens the financials
and makes site visits to the organizations they fundraise for
because she’s not the only one investing in the recipient organization.
"I’m inviting all my friends and family and I’m saying,
’This is a great charity and I want you to support it,’"
she explained. In the past, Genie parties have raised funds for
Coney Island’s Our Lady of Solace, Heart Share Human Services
and families of 9-11 victims.
Dyker Heights native Tozzo, who now lives in Princeton, N.J.,
said her heart is still in Brooklyn. The seven-year-old Genie
Foundation is committed to raising funds for organizations that
benefit the New York metropolitan area only. LOVE, founded by
President Sheila "Twinkle" Rudberg after her husband
was killed while trying to apprehend a 14-year-old purse-snatcher,
will begin sponsoring a program in Manhattan’s School of the
Future this fall, according to LOVE board member Linda Rudberg
Thibodeau.
Tozzo hopes to raise $50,000 net with the gala party.
LOVE programs include photojournalism and broadcast journalism
to help teach kids to overcome violence by documenting it, leadership
training to teach conflict resolution and public speaking, and
school and community outreach programs to raise awareness about
the causes of violence. There are also violence-prevention educational
tools, such as student photos, poetry and stories published in
LOVE’s books, the ’One Love’ newspaper and on its Web site, www.leaveoutviolence.com.
Need another reason to go to Coney Island on Aug. 1? Tozzo says,
"It’s just a nice summer party."
The Genie Foundation’s gala fundraiser
for Leave Out ViolencE will be held Aug. 1 at 7:30 pm at Gargiulo’s
Restaurant, 2911 West 15th St. between Mermaid and Surf avenues
in Coney Island. Tickets are $100. For more information, contact
the Genie Foundation at (212) 303-9442 or visit the Web site
at www.geniefoundation.org.
For more information about Leave Out ViolencE, go to the Web
site at www.leaveoutviolence.com.
