Shawn Burgo
Boston, MA

Karen Capuzzi
Somerset, NJ

Kenji Freedman
Boston, MA

Linda Manzella
Union, NJ

A close friend of the Colangelos for decades, Linda Manzella is one of Family Reach Foundation's most passionate and involved volunteers. One of the original committee members of the Oldies Dinner Dance, Linda has made it a personal mission to find new ways to help the many families in need throughout New Jersey. In the last 10 years since she first got involved, Linda has created new opportunities to raise money at existing events - and even launched a few events of her own.

It started with the Dinner Dance, when Linda first joined her friends in celebrating a birthday - kicking off what was to become Family Reach's longest-running and most successful fundraising event. A key contributor to the event year after year, Linda also suggested the incorporation of a gift auction for the Dinner Dance, which helps to generate additional financial support for Family Reach families, while providing attendees with the chance to take home some wonderful prizes, including trips, artwork, and more.

A recently retired math teacher for 35 years, Linda also brought Family Reach's Giving Tree to a local school, Battle Hill in Union, NJ, where her daughter is a teacher. Through her efforts, students and faculty have donated hundreds of dollars in gift cards during the holiday season to families fighting pediatric cancers at hospitals across the state.

After years of growing existing events and programs, Linda recently started her own event to benefit Family Reach. In June 2009, the avid bowler gathered nearly 30 members of her friends and family at Garwood Lanes in Garwood, NJ for a bowl-a-thon that promptly generated more than $4,000 for Family Reach.

According to Linda, she now looks at everything through "a Family Reach lens" and has helped to identify families in need to receive support from Family Reach. "We're so touched by what Family Reach can do - and have so much fun doing it. This is truly a group of friends who care about each other as much as they care about the mission of helping other families," she said. "The warmth and generosity of this ‘family' has even helped my own, getting my husband through cancer by keeping us involved and inspired."

Future Profiles

Peter Evers

Marlblehead, MA

Eric Hoefer

San Francisco, CA

Chris Lopez
Oceanside, CA

Hector Martinez

Montvale, NJ

Mark McGonagle

Boston, MA

Sonia Sharma

Boston, MA

Joseph Valenti

Oakland, NJ