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Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Raise Funds for Wounded Warriors
Ridgewood-NJ-December 16, 2010: The Ridgewood Knights of Columbus Council #1736 held a Thanksgiving Eve fundraiser that raised over $1,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), which is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors of the United States Armed Forces. The Wounded Warrior Project works to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women, to help severely injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.
Roger Campbell, who sits on the WWP board of directors and is also a member of the Ridgewood Knights Council, gave a touching speech about the reason behind his involvement with the WWP. “On September 11th, I left Ridgewood bound for the World Trade Center where I worked. Many who boarded the same trains that passed through Ridgewood that morning never returned, including my friend and brother Knight Dan McGinley. Today, in distant lands, our finest young men and women fight, are often wounded and sometimes die to prevent another 9/11 from happening. That’s why I’m on the board at the Wounded Warrior Project and that’s why I’m here tonight to say thanks to every one of you for your tremendous support of those our charity serves”, said Campbell.
Also present at the fundraiser was Frank Giordano, a 1983 graduate of West Point and the brother of WWP co-founder Al Giordano. “My brother Al helped start the Wounded Warrior Project as a way to give backpacks to injured vets returning to Walter Reed Hospital from overseas. In that backpack were little things like socks and books that made those who served and were terribly injured know that they were truly cared for and loved. Our mission has widened, and our charity has grown, but it’s events like this one and 85 others held around the U.S. in November alone, that will continue to enable us to serve those who have given so greatly in defensive of our nation and our freedom”, said Giordano.
As a special treat, renowned New York City musicians Bob and Norm played the best of music from the ‘60s through the ‘80s. “This was a great opportunity to show support for our Veterans while having a great time,” said event organizer Alexandra Antonacci, a Ridgewood High School Senior who developed the idea for the fundraiser and then worked with the Knights to help put the event together
