Monday, November 19, 2012
“Dining for Johnny” took place at Franco’s Metro in early November. On Monday, the restaurant’s general manager presented a check to John Damato, 16, and his mother.
The general manger of a local restaurant that held a fundraiser earlier this month to help the family of a 16-year-old Fort Lee boy who received a heart transplant in June presented the family with a check for $1,000 Monday. The donation resulted from a three-day fundraiser Gene Bazzarelli of Franco’s Metro called “Dining for Johnny,” during which the restaurant donated 15 percent of people's checks if they brought in the flyer for the event. Bazzarelli, whose cousin is one of John Damato’s teachers at Fort Lee High School, said he was pleased with the turnout in spite of the event having taken place shortly after Sandy and during the snowstorm that followed. Bazzarelli said he didn’t know John or his family until his cousin, Ms. Bernardo…
40.85014
-73.984829
Franco's Metro Restaurant and Bar
1475 Bergen Blvd, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/fort-lee-restaurant-raises-1k-for-family-of-heart-transplant-recipient
1770282
/locations/8170345
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
The Fort Lee restaurant will donate 15 percent of the check now through Thursday to the family of a 16-year-old Fort Lee boy recovering from a heart transplant.
Updated Wednesday, Nov. 7. A local restaurant is doing its part to help out the family of a 16-year-old Fort Lee boy who received a heart transplant in June by donating 15 percent of people's lunch or dinner checks Monday through Wednesday this week. "We will never let a stupid hurricane get in the way of supporting one of our local residents," said general manager Gene Bazzarelli of Franco’s Metro earlier this week, when the event was planned for Monday through Wednesday. Now because of the winter storm that started sweeping through the area Wednesday, Bazzarelli said he's adding a day. "We have decided to extend [Dining for Johnny] through[Thursday] night," he said. "As always, people who cannot attend, should contact me directly to set …
40.85014
-73.984829
Franco's Metro Restaurant and Bar
1475 Bergen Blvd, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/fort-lee-restaurant-to-sponsor-dining-for-johnny
1770282
/locations/8141352
Monday, October 22, 2012
The first annual donor drive was the idea of Fort Lee's Johnny Damato, 16, who hopes one day to start a foundation to help families in medical crisis.
- NEWS
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Monday, October 22, 2012
The first Johnny Damato Donor Awareness Drive for Bergen County took place Sunday at the Fort Lee Recreation Center. The drive was the brainchild of Fort Lee's Johnny Damato, 16, of Fort Lee, who received a life-saving heart transplant in June from which he continues to face a difficult road to recovery. The event Sunday included a blood drive and organ and bone marrow registry and also served as a fundraiser to help offset Johnny’s ongoing medical care. Johnny hopes to hold the event every year, and each year, the proceeds will go to a family in medical crisis. The youth also hopes to start a foundation someday to help and support such families. Patch Photographer Christopher Costa captured these images Sunday of the drive. **** If you …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
More information about the fundraiser and blood drive for the 16-year-old Fort Lee boy recovering from a heart transplant is available on a newly created Facebook page. The event itself is Oct. 21 at the Fort Lee Rec. Center.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Erik Wander
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Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Family and friends of a 16-year-old Fort Lee youth who received a heart transplant in June are planning a fundraiser and blood drive on Oct. 21 at the Fort Lee Recreation Center. They have also created a Facebook page for the Johnny Damato Donor Awareness Blood Drive and have raised 5 percent of their fundraising goal to date with hopes of hitting the 15 percent mark by the end of this week. “Donate blood [and] help save a life at the upcoming blood drive taking place at the Fort Lee Recreation Center,” the newly launched Facebook page says. Johnny Damato was born with a rare congenital heart disease called Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels and needed a heart transplant. In mid-June, Johnny, then 15—he turned 16 on June 21—…
40.84937
-73.98258
Stillwell Ave & 10th St, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/johnny-damato-donor-awareness-blood-drive-planned-for-october
/locations/7865150
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Johnny Damato received a lifesaving heart transplant in June. His mother provided an update on his condition now, complications that have arisen along the way and a fundraiser being planned.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
- Erik Wander
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Family and friends of a 16-year-old Fort Lee youth, who received a much-needed heart transplant in June and is now in the midst of what is likely to be a lengthy recovery, are planning a fundraiser they hope will also help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. Johnny Damato was born with a rare congenital heart disease called Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels and needed a heart transplant. In mid-June, Johnny’s family learned that the then 15-year-old—he turned 16 on June 21—would receive the heart he so desperately needed, when they received a phone call that one had become available. A 10-hour surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital followed the next day, June 13, and slightly more than two months later, Johnny is …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich Thursday talked about two events—one tragic, and one a triumph—that he said “eclipsed” what would, in any other week, have been the biggest news in Fort Lee.
A period of a few days in Fort Lee that started with a tragic incident involving the death of a high school student turned a little brighter just days later as one family learned that their 15-year-old son would receive the heart transplant he so desperately needed. Johnny Damato was born with what his mother Rita Damato previously described as “an extremely rare congenital heart disease” called Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels and needed a heart transplant. At Thursday’s Fort Lee Mayor and Council meeting, Mayor Mark Sokolich, with whom the youth has maintained a close relationship for years, said Johnny received that heart the previous day. “He got that phone call on Tuesday night at around seven o’clock that a heart became …
40.852771
-73.973355
Fort Lee Borough Administrative Offices-Borough Hall
309 Main St, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/fort-lee-youth-gets-much-needed-heart-transplant-mayor-reports
1771003
/locations/7214096
Thursday, May 17, 2012
One local family’s struggle with their son’s congenital heart disease and the mounting costs associated with it. You can help and become an organ donor in the process.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Erik Wander
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
A group of community members, family and friends are banding together to help a Fort Lee family, whose 15-year-old son is in need of a heart transplant, through some difficult times, and in the process, to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. The Damatos' son, Johnny, has what his mother, Rita Damato, describes on a website designed to raise funds to help the family offset costs associated with his treatment as “an extremely rare congenital heart disease.” Johnny was born with Corrected Transposition of the Great Vessels. Damato said she’s “very proud” of her son for having the courage to battle the disease head-on, but, she told Patch, “He needs a heart.” “He’s been sick since he was a kid, but it never really presented…
Robyn Nadel
11:05 am on Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Kudos to Franco's Metro.....they are a family with a heart of gold (and an outstanding restaurant)! Best of luck to the Damato family, always. :) more ›