My name is Virginia Dente and for those of you who have never heard of the organization called "Joey's Friends," please let me enlighten you!
Joey Dente was my son. He passed away fours years ago from complications due to a rare type of pneumonia. In his memory, "Joey's Friends" was founded. It is a fund-raising organization that raises money to help children with pulmonary, allergy or asthma-related problems.
To date we have raised approximately $70,000 and the Joey Dente Pulmonary Function Lab is up and running. We have a long way to go, but the benefits outweigh the hard work by one-hundred-fold.
This letter is just to let you know of a great group of people who work right here in New Hyde Park in a pharmacy called Lakeville Pharmacy. On Christmas Eve, during the day, "Santa "Mitch Melone, of the pharmacy, called and asked me if we were still raising money for the lab and, of course I said, yes.
"Santa" Mitch then proceeded to tell me that all the "elves" at Lakeville Pharmacy wanted to donate 10 percent of their Christmas bonus to "Joey's Friends" and they brought over a check in the amount of $450 to donate to the cause.
Needless to say, I was speechless! A lot of the employees at Lakeville Pharmacy are young adults and to think that they were willing to give up the extra Christmas money they earned is truly the spirit of Christmas.
This leads me to quote the title of a newspaper article written many years ago..."Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."
Virginia Dente
