Jersey Street Merchants Association Holiday Party(Teaser)

More than 150 families gathered in the Mt. Sinai Community Center on Jersey Street to celebrate the upcoming holidays. Food, music and fun was on the agenda for the evening during the 4th annual Holiday Celebration hosted by the Jersey Street Merchant Association in conjunction with the Staten Island Downtown Alliance, the Verrazano Kiwanis Club and the Manfredi Movement.

This years celebration was the largest on record with 500 toys being donated by the Manfredi Movement - a group of twenty something professionals whose mission is to give back to the Staten Island community. The Manfredi Movement is led by Joseph Quadara, Jr. Partner of The Von Agency.

Said Joe Quadara, "The Manfredi Movement was created to remind young people who are just embarking on their careers that service to one's community is an important component for success. We were honored to supply the gifts for this years celebration. Every child should have a present to open at the holidays and we are happy to help make their holiday special."

This is the third year that the Verrazano Kiwanis Club, led by President Michele Crupi of Barry's Auto Body, co-sponsored the party. Vice President, George Passariello of The Von Agency, coordinated the food, beverages and service for the event. Club member, Kenny Rosenthal played Santa Claus.

Said Michele Crupi, "The Jersey Street Merchant Association is a fairly new organization so we are happy to provide them support for their annual projects. Business and community depend on each other for survival. We are happy to do whatever we can to help Vinny and the JSMA grow into a strong organization to encourage commerce and create jobs along the Jersey Street corridor."

Said Vinny Chirico, President of the Jersey Street Merchant Association and owner of Columbia Meat Market, the oldest existing business on Jersey Street, "The Jersey Street Merchant Association came into existence four years ago with the support of the Staten Island Downtown Alliance, Councilwoman Debi Rose and the NYC Department of Small Business Services. This holiday party is a way for us to thank the community for their support throughout the year. This year the Verrazano Kiwanis and the Manfredi Movement helped us take the event to the next level by supplying an abundance of food, gifts and service support. I want to thank Michele Crupi, George Passariello, Joe Quadara and everyone who lent a hand to make this event an over the top success. I look forward to working with them on future projects."

Future projects include the creation of a community garden on Jersey Street and business training sessions for neighborhood youth who want to become entrepreneurs.

Others who participated in the event include:

Wayne McDougall, Program Manager Jersey Street Merchant Association

Nick Desimone, Tom Damon, Emily Aiello, James Taunton and Corrado Cina of the Manfredi Movement

Steve D'Argentine, Verrazano Kiwanis Club

Leticia Remauro, Secretary and Phyllis Kaye, Program Manager Staten Island Downtown Alliance

Loretta Caldwell, Executive Director, Staten Island Business Outreach Center