The Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation, a non-profit serving pediatric cancer patients nationwide, hosted an event March 10 at the Dyker Beach Catering Hall to celebrate children and teens who demonstrate outstanding qualities and values toward inspiring and bettering the lives of others and their community.
Local students were given awards as “Frankie’s Heroes” to salute their making a difference in their communities and inspiring others to do the same.
The event was sponsored by Bay Ridge Toyota, and all proceeds benefitted the foundation’s mission of assisting the pediatric cancer community.
The Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation was founded by two sisters, Camille Orrichio Loccisano and Lucy A. Bruno, in honor and memory of Camille’s teenage son, Frankie, who valiantly fought and succumbed to osteosarcoma and leukemia.
In Frankie’s spirit of giving and helping others, the foundation extends financial support to children and their families while they undergo life-saving pediatric cancer treatments that are critical to their care and survival.
“Frankie had an appreciation for good people who did good things,” Orrichio Loccisano said. “Now, in his memory, we aim to applaud these children who exemplify the right values.”
“While the media often reports on young people who are walking the wrong path, these heroic youngsters are a great example for other children and teens,” Bruno said. “Our organization recognizes the need to salute them.”
The foundation’s board of directors sent out letters to N.Y.C. school teachers and principals asking them to nominate the student heroes. With special guest NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Fox in attendance, the following 15 students were recognized:
Salvatore Barcia is a college-age student who has been living with severe Crohn’s Disease that required an intestine transplant among other aggressive treatments. Sal was determined not to let the illness keep him from helping others. A volunteer EMT, he actively visits the elderly and those who are sick. During Hurricane Sandy, Sal was a driving force in the rescue and recovery. He was responsible for rescuing a man who was a severe asthmatic, sleeping on a piece of plywood and struggling to breathe. Sal was able to get him the medicine he needed and also reached out via social networking to get supplies, a bed and other necessities. Sal intends to pursue a career as a pilot.
Ebony Cadet is a senior at Bishop Loughlin M.H.S., Fort Greene. An honor student, she leads the LaSallian Youth Club, a group of students who come together to pray, build community and do outstanding works of service. Very involved in Campus Ministry, Ebony volunteers at soup kitchens, food pantries, clean-up projects and at the Brooklyn Public Library. She organized a ‘random acts of kindness’ service project on the streets of Manhattan in order to make a better day for New Yorkers. Ebony’s principal describes her as “amazing!”
Brian Doyle is a student at Kingsborough Community College. A member of the Rockaway Point Volunteer Fire Department, he stayed in Breezy Point during the worst of Hurricane Sandy and risked his life to help others. When the water was five feet throughout the whole peninsula, Brian did not seek shelter or higher ground, as most were forced to. He bravely went out in a Zodiac boat with several other volunteer fireman and actively saved lives while fighting the amazing currents of the water, 90 mph winds and a firestorm that engulfed over 100 homes. Brian’s future plan is to become a member of the FDNY.
Michael Guglielmo will be receiving this award in memory of his son Giovanni Guglielmo who was diagnosed with a rare genetic immune disorder at five months old and fought valiantly against the illness until he lost his life at the age of five. Gio understood his illness and he was exceptionally brave. He inspired a bone marrow movement from America to Italy registering over 55,000 people, including over 3,000 firefighters and over 185 people who received a lifesaving bone marrow match. His legacy lives on as more people continue to join the bone marrow registry in his memory. To save a life visit, deletebloodcancer.org.
Alyssa Guillen is a sophomore at Bishop Kearney H.S., Bensonhurst. She has been a team captain for Relay for Life since the age of seven, engaging in many fundraising endeavors to support cancer research. Her further accomplishments include starting a letter writing campaign for a child battling leukemia, and organizing a successful blood drive. Her special dedication is fundraising an annual charity dinner to support Multiple Myeloma in honor of her grandmother.
Angelia Nicole Lubrano is a third grade student at Leif Ericson Day School. Her special commitment to the victims of Hurricane Sandy included the idea to hold a toy drive for the littlest Sandy victims. She recruited help from her own school as well as from neighboring schools, and was able to collect over 200 games and toys. She cheerfully helped hand out toys to over 80 families on Christmas Eve. Angelia also delivered home cooked food, clothing, toiletries, diapers and served soup to those same areas in need. Angelia also performed a twirling routine at the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. She participates as a team member for “Linda’s Angels” (In honor of her godmother, a two time cancer survivor) and by selling raffles to help raise money for cancer research.
Brigid McEvoy is a student in the middle school Genesis program at Xaverian High School. She developed and chaired a drive out of her home to provide backpacks for underprivileged children. Under Brigid’s guidance, 197 backpacks and many boxes of additional school supplies went to four different churches and two homeless shelters in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. All of the backpacks were given directly to a child in need. Brigid has also grown her hair three times and had it donated to “Locks of Love” for children who are fighting cancer.
Nicole Mullan is a senior at St. John Villa Academy, Staten Island, who was left partially blind by a rare and sudden condition. Told that she could possibly lose her full eyesight, Nicole has faced her condition with perseverance and determination. She vowed that her loss of vision will not take over her life, and she is a constant source of inspiration for her family, friends and community.
Eduard Nogay is a student at Fort Hamilton H.S. A talented volleyball player on the team, he was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer in his junior year. Eduard’s treatment included a full arm amputation. Eduard vowed that he would learn to play volleyball with one arm. He manages the Girls’ Volleyball Team, and only 10 days after his surgery, he was back to lead them. He is described by his teachers and coaches as handling his cancer battle and amputation with “grace and strength.”
Xander O. Pond is a student of Princeton Elementary. He was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma at the age of six. After a year of grueling treatment he is in remission, and he has made a difference in the lives of many other children battling cancer via his own gift-giving program. In a selfless spirit, he has held wrestling and paintball tournaments to raise funds in order to purchase and deliver toys and gifts to children at the hospital who are battling for their lives.
Bridget and Mia Shaughnessy are sisters who are attending St. Ephrem’s due to Hurricane Sandy. Bridget (age 11) founded the “Green Club,” a beach cleaning program that she and her sister Mia (age 9) host each April. They have also participated in “Little Angels,” a group that visits the elderly and people affected by mental illness. The girls and their family are displaced from their home, but they were determined to make a difference for other young victims of the hurricane in spite of their own difficult time. After losing all of their own books in the storm they decided a great way to help other Rockaway children was to start a book drive. Due to the generosity of the St. Ephrem’s community the girls were able to distribute children’s books in several Rockaway locations.
Emily Shrem, is a student at Yeshivah of Flatbush who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in her junior year of high school. A cancer survivor, Emily is committed to giving back to the community. She runs a very important mentor program for younger students. An inspiring public speaker, Emily is also dedicated to helping the elderly and needy. She spent time in Israel visiting hospitals, the disabled and children from dysfunctional families among others.
Madison Utecht is an eighth grade student at Midwood Catholic Academy. Madison is dedicated to her mom who is battling cancer. She is also active in the care of her younger brother who is on the autistic spectrum and her grandfather who lives with Alzheimer’s. Remarkably brave and hardworking, Madison is an honor student and a member of the student council.
Christiana Vazquez-Rivera is a senior at Fontbonne Hall Academy, Bay Ridge, who has juvenile diabetes. She is actively involved in volunteering in her school as well as the community. She is currently working with students on Sandy Hurricane relief efforts. In the summer she provides assistance to the Sisters of Saint Joseph while they are on vacation for a week. She also volunteers at the Bensonhurst Cluster Youth Ministry Program during the summer, and participates in a weeklong service retreat with the Salesians of Don Bosco called Gospel Road. She also volunteers with her mom at the Ft. Hamilton Military base through the USO. Christiana’s building suffered major damage by Hurricane Sandy. Forced to endure temporary housing, she maintains her health regimen, her grades and continues to participate in school activities, including the Student Activities Council where she serves as Chairperson of the Religious Activities Committee at Fontbonne Hall Academy.