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Mostly Cloudy Richard Forenza Memorial Fundraiser to support NUMC Burn Center
Second annual event to remember beloved Salisbury firefighter
More than two years have passed since the death of Salisbury resident Richard Forenza. His friends and family will continue a new tradition to celebrate his life and to raise funds for the Nassau County Firefighters Burn
Center.
The second annual Richard Forenza Memorial Fundraiser will be held on Feb. 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall on 3232 Railroad Avenue in Wantagh.
Forenza, 40, died on Nov. 9, 2009 from injuries suffered from an early-morning accident on the Long Island Expressway during his regular truck route four days earlier. About 85 percent of his body was covered in burns. He was treated at the Nassau University Medical Center’s Firefighters Burn Unit until his death.
Forenza, a truck driver, was known for his sense of humor and friendly personality. He also volunteered for the Westbury Fire Department.
The Richard Forenza Memorial Fund, led by family members and close friends, raised $18,000 from last year’s fundraising efforts. The donation helped the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation purchase an M-Turbo Ultrasound Machine, which allows staff to see through burn scar tissue, while improving the ability to evaluate recovery rates and determine treatment courses.
In a letter to the Richard Forenza Memorial Fund, Burn Center Foundation Chairman Paul Napoli thanked the Forenza family and friends for their efforts to improve the Burn Center, which is housed at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
“It’s remarkable to see how Rich Forenza’s family and friends have come together in a determination that something positive must come from your shared tragedy,” Napoli wrote in the letter.
Tickets for the second annual fundraiser cost $45 if purchased before Feb. 20. Purchases made after Feb. 20 will cost $55. The donation includes a five-hour open bar, a hot buffets, raffles and entertainment. Live music will be provided by ANI4NI and Bang Zoom.
To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.richforenzamemorialfund.com or call Greg Young at (516) 244-4632. Tickets can also be obtained by mailing a check to: mailing a check to: The Richard Forenza Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 719, Massapequa Park, N.Y., 11762.
