It has always been the mission of The Anthony M. Fernicola Foundation to furnish funding to vulnerable citizens who have monetary setbacks due to illness or unemployment. A temporary hand-up to those qualified candidates grappling with any form of adversity or hardship is what the foundations aims to ameliorate.
One such program that the foundation has supported has been the Bayshore Lunch Program. In partnership with the Community Church of Keyport, NJ, the Bayshore Lunch Program serves over 200 free lunches weekly to the community. Many of the recipients are unemployed, seniors, people with health concerns or families with children. They also provide a nurse to answer health related questions and a representative from the local food bank to help people sign up for food stamps and other social services. It is a very worthy program that we have been proud to support.
Covenant House is another of the charities that our foundation has helped. They provide immediate help to children in crisis. Shelter and food are only a few examples of the services they make available to homeless, runaway or trafficked children. They are a very worthwhile organization.
The Joe Leone L’Aquila Earthquake Relief Fund was begun in response to a devastating earthquake that struck L’ Aquila, Italy. The donations made by our foundation and others has helped to rebuild an orphanage for over 36 children and their Zealous Sisters of the Sacred Heart caretakers. A home next to the orphanage was built to assist battered women and children.
The A.M.F. Foundation has also supported Joe Leone’s Texas Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. We donated multiple cases of water to be shipped to the area.
The Anthony M. Fernicola Foundation has been instrumental in giving much needed respite to families who have been affected by illness or hardship. One such example is providing Direct Support Provider funds to a family whose child is afflicted with severe Autism and other medical disorders that gives the parents some necessary and important caregiver relief.
Another recipient who suffers from multiple medical illness was granted a vehicle and a monthly stipend to help with rent and groceries and associated medical bills while searching for employment. This financial aid provided the receiver with stress relief and solace while coping with a very difficult situation.
It is the mission of the foundation to provide assistance in as many forms as possible to alleviate the trials and tribulations of those suffering hardship and adversity.