Italian American Club To Hold Fundraiser For Earthquake Victims

This Sunday, the Italian American Club of Scotch Plains will host a fundraiser to help reconstruction of L’Aquila, the medieval Italian city that was virtually destroyed by an earthquake in April.

The deadly 6.3 quake hit L’Aquila, capital of the Abruzzi region in central Italy, on April 6. It claimed over 300 lives, caused over 1,500 injuries, and left 65,000 homeless. Forty-nine cities, towns, and villages were damaged. Landmarks crumbled, houses were reduced to rubble, and between 3,000 and 10,000 buildings were damaged.

This was the fourth major tremor the Abruzzi region has suffered. It has been declared a state of emergency by Italy’s prime minister, and President Obama has extended financial aid to assist with the preservation of the region’s culture and history. Now, Scotch Plains residents with roots to the area are taking up the cause.

“Most of the Italian people from Scotch Plains are from Montazzoli, which is a 1 ½ hour drive from the quake’s epicenter,” said Renzo DiCarlo, former president of the Italian American Club of Scotch Plains and chairman of the fundraising event. “We have friends in the area. All of our club members are from there. I feel that we have to do something worthwhile for the region. That’s why we’re raising money to help them.”

The fundraiser will be held from 2 - 7 p.m. at the Italian American Club of Scotch Plains, 1976 Valley Avenue. Tickets cost $35 and include a buffet dinner, refreshments, a video presentation of L’Aquila and its surrounding communities, a DJ, and performances by Scotch Plains Fanwood High School’s Moonglowers Band.

Various Italian restaurants and food distributors are donating food to the event, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be sent to Italy — specifically to build a kindergarten playground in Villa Sant’Angelo, a neighboring town of L’Aquila.

“There were 17 deaths in Sant’Angelo, and most of the houses have been destroyed,” DiCarlo said. “All of the people in the town are living in tents. The government is helping to rebuild the town and a kindergarten, and they need a new playground. Psychologists recommended that this is something the children need in order to get back to normal life.”

The event will be attended by prominent Italian citizens: Pierluigi Biondi, the mayor of Villa Sant’Angelo, Dr. Gigi DeFanis, a consigliere regionale and president of a European commission whose office is in L’Aquila, and Ercole DelNegro, the Mayor of Montazzoli. Invitations have also been extended to Scotch Plains Mayor Nancy Malool, members of the Consulate of Italy in Newark, and former acting Governor of New Jersey and former NJ State Senate President Don DiFrancesco, a Scotch Plains native whose father is from Montazzoli.

“Everybody who buys a ticket should know that the money will go toward the cause,” DiCarlo said. “Not even a penny will go to the IAC. I am very confident that we are doing the right thing for the community there.”

The Italian American Club of Scotch Plains was founded over 100 years ago and currently has 130 members. Donations can be made via check to: Italian American Club L’Aquila’s Earthquake Fundraising, 1976 Valley Ave., Scotch Plains, NJ  07076, Attn: Amerigo Checchio.

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L’Aquila Earthquake Fundraiser Event

Saturday, June 28th, from 2-7 pm

The Italian American Club, 1976 Valley Ave., SP

$35 donation per person

For more information, contact Renzo DiCarlo at (908) 803-9000.