Pelham Civic Association To Raise Funds For Computers, Tutoring for Needy Pelham Students

November 30, 2012

The Pelham Civic Association has announced a new program called “Help a Child, Change a Life,” a student development initiative to assist Pelham students who cannot afford tutoring, SAT prep courses and computers.

A direct mail effort and in-store posters will complement a print advertising campaign to raise funds to support the program.

Pelham Civics’ President Joe Benefico explained that the organization realized through its Good Neighbor Program—which identifies and provides needy individuals and families in Town with food, clothing, and occupational support—that Pelham students who are from these families cannot afford the basic fundamental development opportunities like tutoring, SAT prep courses, and even computers.

“So it was a natural evolution for us to help these students,” said Civics Good Neighbor Chairman Richard Davidian, “giving them the same chances to succeed in life as the more fortunate children.”

Joe Nunziata, longtime Civics’ member and officer and owner of Nunziata Ad Agency, is developing the probono creative work for the new Civics program. “Once Rich and his committee proposed this new program, we knew that it needed an extensive marketing and fundraising campaign to meet its goals,” he said. With the support of the Civics Board of Directors and membership, the ad agency first created a trifold brochure that Mr. Davidian brought to the Pelham Schools, soliciting their support. “We then created a print ad campaign that garnished a lot of attention and community support. As our own ‘celebrity spokespeople’ we are featuring endorsements from Pelham’s own Joe Longobardi, former

Pelham Middle School Principal, Nancy Fisher, former Pelham Board of Education President, and Joe Benefico, President of the Pelham Civics (and also the Village of Pelham’s Chief of Police).

Mr. Longobardi said, “The Pelham Civics have always been there for the kids. Always. This program is crucial to help these students reach their potential. I wholeheartedly support it!”

Mrs. Fisher, whose husband Tim is a Civics member and chairs the Civics’ Sophomore Career Awareness Day, said of the new initiative. “It’s crucial that our students receive as much support as possible and be given every conceivable chance to succeed in life. The Civics is the right organization at the right time to accomplish this.”

Mr. Nunziata also solicited the talents of Pelham residents Art Director Al Saura and Photographer Domenica Comfort to help with the campaign.

Tim Curry, a member of the Civics Good Neighbor Committee and Chair of the Holiday Gift Giving Program, added, “This year alone we distributed food and gifts to almost 100 families in Town, including more than 175 kids. This new program will now fuel them in another way as well!”

For more information on how to be a part of this program, contact Pelham Civic Good Neighbor Committee Chairman Rich Davidian at 914-552-0872 or visit www.pelhamcivics.org.

To make a contribution to the program, checks payable to Friends of the Pelham Civic Association may be mailed to The Pelham Civics, PO Box 8184, Pelham, NY 10803. The Pelham Civic Association is a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by the IRS.