More than 300 people turned out for the “Shields of Honor” gala honoring first responders at Ventosa Vineyards and the event raised $40,000 for Geneva firemen and police officers.
Ray Ciancaglini and his Second Impact organization organized two fundraiser dinners last year for Geneva firemen and police officers. This year, it was all in one with the “Shields of Honor” gala. Last year’s benefit enabled the police to purchase new uniforms for the entire squad and the fireman purchased two $13,000 up-to-date fire suits. Last year’s dinners raised $10,000 for Geneva firemen and $16,000 for Geneva police officers.
With this year’s money, the police department would like to invest in a K9 dog and the fire department again will purchase state-of-the-art firesuits.
Ciancaglini, who organized the Gala with a committee of volunteers, told the crowd: “I liken First Responders to being a seat belt. Seat belts save injuries and lives that we never hear about because the seatbelt did its job of protecting us from harm. Our police and firefighters are our seatbelts every day, unconditionally!”
Besides Ciancaglini, the sponsor and host, the speakers were: State Sen. Pam Helming, State Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, Mayor Steve Valentino, City Manager Amie Hendrix, Police Chief Matthew Colton, and Fire Chief Del Parrotta.
The live auction after the dinner brought in $16,000. Auctioneer Mike Rusinko sold a Josh Allen-signed NFL football for $1,600, an Ali Marpet-signed Hobart College football helmet that went to the highest bidder at $2,000, and a Henry tribute Law Enforcement rifle and a Henry tribute Firefighters rifle for $1,100 each. Six door prizes and more than 50 items donated by local businesses also were raffled.
Ciancaglini’s all-volunteer committee for the event includes his wife, Patti, Paul D’Amico, Erika VanSavage, Rob Patnesky, Jess Passalacqua, Meg Colton, Donna Schaertl, Kelsey Journell and his son, Ray Ciancaglini Jr.
“It was many hours of hard work and dedication by my Second Impact committee that brought this Gala to fruition with great success,” said Ciancaglini, who also praised Phil Beckley, his public relations consultant, and his drivers Dave Cook and Ed George.
Ciancaglini has been battling Parkinson’s Syndrome and Dementia Pugilistica, now called CTE, for many years as a direct result of numerous untreated concussions he suffered during his professional boxing career. He started The Second Impact organization to tell his story of the mistakes he made by not properly addressing concussions and the lifelong consequences he suffered as a result. The organization’s goal is to raise awareness, offer support, and encourage being honest about concussion symptoms.
Ciancaglini has lectured for several years at colleges and high schools and to firemen and police on concussions, mental health, and overall physical fitness.
