Scarsdale Store Fundraises for Summer Camp Scholarship

From Lifting Up Westchester: Beauty, creativity, cooperation and inspiration were on display at D'Errico Jewelry in Scarsdale on Thursday, March 23rd as the company partnered with Lifting Up Westchester to raise money for the D'Errico Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Unveiled at the event was newly-created signature custom jewelry in the shape of a dove, celebrating the mission of the nonprofit – to lift men, women and children from poverty and despair. Brothers Sal and Richie D’Errico, owners of D’Errico Jewelry opened their log cabin style store on Central Avenue to raise funds to support the Lifting Up Westchester (LUW) Brighter Futures Summer Camp for homeless and economically disadvantaged children. Customers were invited to enjoy appetizers and a wine tasting and an opportunity to find out more about the camp which runs for four weeks in July at the Ridgeway Elementary School in White Plains.

The event was attended by 50 individuals and raised more than $6,000, enough to send twelve homeless children to camp this summer.

Brighter Futures Day Camp has provided recreational and enriching activities for 80-100 at-risk children annually for almost 40 years, and is the only camp in White Plains that targets homeless kids. Eileen Torres, Youth Services Director, said, “It’s a place where campers don’t need to be embarrassed by the clothes they wear or the financial status of their families because the other kids are just like them. A lot of our counselors were also homeless once themselves so they can empathize with these kids and offer emotional support.”

The D’Errico brothers first heard about LUW and its poverty and homeless programs last April. They were so inspired by the camp that they made a specially designated donation to LUW’s annual Oasis of Hope Dinner. That was the start of the D’Errico Summer Camp Scholarship Fund. Last year the fund provided scholarships for five homeless campers and the brothers hope to grow the fund annually. A scholarship for a homeless child is $500.

Sal D’Errico said, “I remember, as a child, how wonderful it was when my parents would take us out of the Bronx to upstate New York during the summer. I want these kids to have the experience of a happy summer, too, and Brighter Futures enables them to do just that.”

Sal and Richie also secured other organizations’ participation for their in-store event including American Legend, whose owner, Donna Rubin, donated a Hakeem Nicks autographed photograph, as well as Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, which donated a $150 gift certificate and bottle of wine, and Jeanne Bragaglia, who donated a Yankees Basket.

Photo courtesy of Lifting Up Westchester