Charity event at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy raises money for children with diseases

Celebrities and Elected Officials Help Raise Medical Funds for Children

February 6, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Gianni Incandela receives cards and presents from the other children. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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Our Lady of Grace Catholic (OLG) Academy at 385 Ave. W in Gravesend sponsored a well-attended Share the Love Chinese Auction on Friday, Feb. 3. The event was held to raise money for children who are bravely fighting serious medical conditions such as Lyme disease, Leukemia and Craniopharyngioma, a type of brain tumor that occurs most commonly in children.

The money raised will go toward helping the children pay for their costly medical treatments.

Offering their support at the event were state Sen. Marty Golden and actor William DeMeo. DeMeo wrote, directed and performed in the 2016 film “Back in the Day,” which starred Alec Baldwin, Michael Madsen and Danny Glover. DeMeo’s list of credits includes movies such as “Analyze That” and “Searching for Bobby D” and roles on TV’s “The Sopranos” and “Blue Bloods.” DeMeo also brought his son Christian to help out.

Share the Love featured games, characters in costume, a Chinese auction, prize raffles, a 50/50 raffle and a class art art auction where people could bid on artwork created by the students of OLG Academy to help raise money for a good cause.

There were team tables set up to support four children in particular:

Team Julia — working for Julia Bruzzese, who is fighting Lyme disease

Team Gianni — working for Gianni Incandela, who is battling craniopharyngioma

Team Josie — working for Josie Masters, who also suffers from Lyme disease

Team Angelina — working for Angelina Roberto, who has leukemia

Pastor Vincent Chirichella offered prayers and Golden praised the kids and the faculty of OLG Academy for all of their efforts in putting the event together to help these children and their families.