Rotary Club of Verrazano hosts 39th Anniversary Dinner Dance

Humanitarian Organization Celebrates at El Caribe Country Club

May 3, 2017 By John Alexander Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Fort Hamilton Army Base Colonel Peter Sicoli with Rotary Club member Ralph Succar at Rotary Club of Verrazano Dinner Dance. Eagle photos by Arthur De Gaeta

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The Rotary Club of Verrazano held its 39th Anniversary Dinner Dance and Gala on Saturday at the El Caribe Country Club at 5945 Strickland Avenue.

This year’s event celebrated the achievements of Man of the Year Sal Armao, managing partner and founder of Armao LLP, philanthropist Artie Maresca, who received the Community Service Award, and Humanitarian Award honoree Lisa Bova-Hiatt, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery.

The Paul Harris Fellow Award, named in honor of the man who founded the Rotary Club with three business associates in Chicago in 1905, was presented to Carl Campagna, past president of the Rotary Club of Verrazano.

Additionally, the Women’s and Children’s Award was given to Grace Campagna and Jamie Lynn Macchia, who was Miss New York 2015. The award recognized the two women for their support of children’s causes.

Club member Ralph Succar said the evening was filled with good music, good food and good friends who all gathered together to help raise money for a great cause. The evening included a silent auction with proceeds supporting Gift of Life of NY, a nonprofit organization working to obtain life-saving heart surgeries for children in distress. Succar explained the Rotary Club’s motto is “Service Above Self.”

“That means it’s all about the service that we provide for others. It’s not about us,” said Succar.

Ben Truncali, president of the rotary welcomed guests and elected officials including state Sen. Marty Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) and Assemblymember Pamela Harris (D-Coney Island-Dyker Heights-Bay Ridge).

“What the rotary does is change lives for the better. From helping feed the hungry to helping people get back on their feet after a catastrophe to lifesaving open heart surgery through Gift of Life. The rotary changes lives,” Truncali said.

Golden addressed the packed hall saying, “The Rotary Club has been there for many years, doing great things, hosting many different events and helping many, many families and kids.”

Golden presented awards from the New York State Senate to each of the honorees. He acknowledged the rotary for its good work in the community.

“The members of the rotary give of themselves not 100 percent, but 120 percent. They are out there at each event trying to help others and make sure they make a difference,” added Golden.

The Rotary Club of Verrazano is one of more than 30,000 rotary clubs in 160 countries worldwide. They work to help feed the hungry, procure open heart surgeries for children overseas and support a variety of local projects.