Community Corner

Vero Amici Donates $17,500 To Local Organizations

'Every single dollar we raise goes directly to someone,' said Dominick Aiello, West Caldwell Councilman and founding member of the charity.

A Caldwells charity has donated thousands of dollars to local organizations after another successful fundraising year. 

Vero Amici for Charity donated $17,500 to five organizations at Tuesday's West Caldwell Council meeting. Vero Amici, which has been working in the Caldwells since 2005, is a registered 501(c)(3). 

Dominick Aiello, a founding member of Vero Amici and West Caldwell Councilman, said the charity donates the money every year around this time so the organizations can be prepared for the holiday season. The money, Aiello added, goes toward feeding hungry families on Thanksgiving and holiday gifts for children, handicapped residents and senior citizens — among other things — in the Caldwells. 

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"Every single dollar we raise goes directly to someone," said Aiello. "We're really proud of all the work we've done and the impact we've had on the community through Vero Amici."

The charity annually holds one big fundraiser a year: the popular casino night in June. That one single fundraiser, said Aiello, generates between $30,000 to $40,000 that goes back into the community.   

Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The following organizations and people received checks on Tuesday: 

  • $2,500 to The Bridge, received by president Frank Astorino, executive director Inya Chehade and board member Bob Masella. 
  • $5,000 to The Caldwell / West Caldwell Local Assistance Board, received by director Maria Burack. 
  • $2,500 to the West Caldwell Recreation Special Needs Program, received by director Gabe DiMasi. 
  • $5,000 to The Essex County Mental Health Association, received by executive director Bob Davison
  • $2,500 to Gifts from Nana - St. Rocco’s Outreach Center, received by James Caldwell High School football coach Ken Trimmer and his daughter, Kim. 

Anyone wishing to make a donation can mail their checks to: 

Vero Amici for Charity

Post Office Box 1264

West Caldwell, NJ 07007

Contributions are tax deductible.


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