In 2001, the Scotto family along with friends and business associates established a scholarship fund in memory of their son Michael.

"We're just trying to honor our son and keep his memory alive," said Dominick Scotto, Michael's father.

"At the end of the day, it makes us feel good to know that we're doing this in Michael's name" his mother Dorothy Scotto said.

Michael passed away in November of 2000 of a heart condition. He was a 17-year-old senior who would have graduated in June. Since then, the Michael Scotto Scholarship Fund has provided scholarships to students who share the same values their son portrayed. Every year a well-deserving high school senior is chosen to receive a $5,000 scholarship for college education.

"Michael had values that kids his age don't normally have. He was a very likable, loyal, dependable and reliable young man," Dominick said.

On June 2, Dorothy Roland was the 2005 recipient of the Michael Scotto Scholarship. The scholarship is open to any graduating student in Farmingdale High School. There are no prerequisites; the family just asks students to write an essay about themselves, their values and family. In turn, the guidance office sends these essays to the Scotto family where Michael's parents and sisters, Lisa Scotto, Theresa Lanfranco and Dorothy Elfawal read and select the best-written essay.

"It's hard to explain what you're looking for when you're reading the essays," Dominick said. "We don't want just a straight-A student or perfect athlete to get the scholarship, we wanted everyone to have a shot at it as long as it furthered their education."

The Scholarship Fund had grown to such an extent that it is now the Michael Scotto Memorial Foundation, which in addition to the annual scholarship awards, donates financial assistance to those of unfortunate circumstances.

In 2004, the Foundation donated $5,000 to the Walter Hoving Home, $5,000 to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital and $5,000 to the March of Dimes. The Merricats Castle School also received $1,250 worth of Christmas gifts for disadvantaged children. Through Catholic charities, a Peruvian family also received a 2002 Ford Windstar valued at $15,275 paid for by the Foundation.

The Foundation also donated $15,000 to the Mariyka Fund: Children of Chernobyl Relief Fund, where a Ukrainian girl had two important surgical procedures done to repair her nose and throat from a bacterial infection. In addition, the Foundation also donated $10,000 to the Save the Children Foundation after the Tsunami disaster.

The Foundation also organizes an annual golf outing at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset to generate funds for the scholarship as well as other worthy causes as noted above. This year's outing will be held Sept. 19. The golf outing is their only source of fund raising, all of which is donated to good causes.

The Foundation is always looking for people to help and utilize various charities and religious organizations to reach them.

"We became a foundation so that we can do things," Dorothy said. "We want our donations to really impact someone's life."