“A child must know that she is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn’t been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child liker her.” Pablo Casals.
A decade ago, Alicia DiNatale left this world at the tender age of 16. I was lucky enough to know her because she was dear friends with my daughter, Kelly. I watched them play soccer, sing, dance, and laugh and cry together. I watched them become beautiful young women.
Alicia lived life with a passion and a speed like no one I have ever met. Whether it was on the soccer field, the track or the theater stage, she exuded energy. She even talked fast!
Children are not supposed to die. The loss of a child is the loss of innocence and can signify the loss of hopes and dreams of the future.
Alicia’s parents, Deputy Mayor Mario DiNatale and his wife, Gisele, have worked hard to keep Alicia’s hopes and dreams alive. They have turned the heartache and tears from the loss of their daughter into a passion to give laughter, joy and hope to sick children around the world.
For ten years, the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation has provided programs to improve the health and well being of hospitalized children battling cancer and other life- threatening illnesses. ARVF has provided Victorious-4-Teens programs to 93 hospitals across 36 states and three countries, touching the lives of over 70,000 critically ill teens and their families. Victorious-4-Teens programs fund Teen Lounges, Teen Kits and Teen Events such as proms, support groups and other themed events.
The ARVF will be holding its 10th Annual Birthday Bash on Oct. 5, to commemorate a decade of giving. Every year, the party is held around Alicia’s birthday.
This year, the Foundation will be honoring two outstanding humanitarians for their exceptional commitment to both ARVF and the local community. Rob Curley, South Jersey’s President of TD Bank, will be honored as a Corporate Champion. Adolfo Pepe Piperno, CEO and owner of A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, will be honored as a Community Champion.
The Birthday Bash will be held at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin and begins at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $130.00. For more information, call 856–784–0615 or visit www.arvf.org.
Join us in keeping Alicia’s dream alive and letting all children know they are miracles!
** The 32nd Annual Bike MS City to Shore Ride will be held on Sept. 29 and 30. The event begins at the Woodcrest Speedline Station in Cherry Hill and winds its way through our community. The National MS Society’s mission is to create a world free of multiple sclerosis. The bike event raises money to continue the society’s mission. To learn more
about the event or to register to participate or volunteer, visit www.mscycling.org or call 1–800–445-BIKE.
** Voorhees Township will again host the 13th Annual Women’s Health Conference on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Eastern Regional High School on Laurel Oak Road. The Conference is free to residents of Camden County and is an interactive event with approximately 72 workshops on topics from health, fitness, nutrition, exercise, wellness, beauty, fashion and personal finance. The keynote speaker will be CBS 3 news anchor Erika von Tiehl. The Camden County Board of Freeholders and the Department of Health and Human Services sponsor the conference. For more information or to register online, visit www.camdencounty.com or call (856) 225–5433.
** On Saturday, Oct. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Voorhees Town Center and the Sons of Italy will host an Italian Festa, a celebration of Italian-American Culture and Heritage. There will be a wine and beer garden, Italian foods, bocce, an espresso bar, pony rides and Italian themed entertainment and music. For more information, visit www.njsonsofitaly.com/festa. Viva Italia!
** On Saturday, Oct. 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., “International Day 2012” will be held at St. Andrew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Gibbsboro. The event is free and will include international foods and multi-cultural displays that highlight our community’s cultural diversity. The Voorhees Township Citizens Culture and Diversity Advisory Committee as well as the Camden County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Camden County Human Relations Commission sponsor the event. For more information, contact Chairwoman Gwen DeVera at (856) 751–1364 or visit www.camdencounty.com or www.voorheesnj .com.
** The Voorhees Town Center Farmers’ Market will be held every Saturday through Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Special Events Plaza outside the entrance to Town Hall. The market features Jersey fresh fruits, vegetables, pasta, honey, wine and much more from vendors throughout the Delaware Valley.
