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Fund-raiser continues to grow
WALLINGFORD — Rose Pannone never met Donald Trump. She never met actor John Travolta or author J.K. Rowling, either.
But that didn’t stop the celebrities from making donations to a fun raiser in Panone's name for her children's college tuition.
Pannone died Jan 27, 2004, at 31, when she lost control of her Kia station wagon and hit a guardrail off interstate 91 in North Haven. Pannone worked as a United Parcel Service driver for 10 years.
Her brother, Joe Pannone immediately began working on a fund raiser to establish a college fund her sister's two children, 14-year-old Justin and 7-year-old Alyssa. The fund-raiser, which included a silent auction, was held last May at PNA Park.
Joe Pannone is the founder and CEO of Forza, a nationally recognized technology firm in Wallingford. He used his contacts in the business to send 2,800 personalized letters to celebrities and professional athletes with the hope someone would lend a helping hand.
He got a lot of helping hands.
Donald Trump sent a pass for three people to play a round of golf at Trump National Golf Club in Westchester, NY. The pass sold for $1000 at the silent auction, Pannone said.
J.K. Rowling, author of the "Harry Potter" series, sent autographed books, while John Travolta and Robin Williams sent autographed pictures.
The silent auction raised $10,000 of the $20,000 total from last year's fund-raiser.
"Celebrity is currency," Pannone said. "A lot of celebrities understand that. How hard id it for someone like John Travolta to sign a picture? When we get it, we can turn it into something good."
"I never imagined that we would end up getting things like that," said Lori Molesky, a fund-raiser committee member. “We figured we would take a shot writing to people and whatever we get, we get."
Committee members and volunteers will join Pannone Monday night in his Yalesville office to begin addressing 5,000 letters for this year's fund-raiser, which will take place June 4 at PNA Park.
Because last year’s fund-raiser was so successful, Pannone decided to create the Rose Pannone Children Fund.
The nonprofit organization was designed to benefit disadvantaged youths throughout the greater Connecticut area. Proceeds from this year's fund-raiser will be split between the college funds for Rose Pannone's children and the Rose Pannone Children Fund. Applications for the Rose Pannone Children Fund are available at www.rosepannone.com.
The web site features photographs and poems written by Rose Pannone along with a copy of a letter from President George W. Bush to Joe Pannone dated April, 2004, expressing sympathy for the loss of Pannone's sister.
"My sister believed in children." Pannone said. "She loved children. My wife and I believe in education and we wanted to honor Roses's passing in this way."
"There are a lot of kids out there who need help." Molesky added. "I'm sure Rose would have loved this."
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Joe Pannone CEO, Forza Technology Solutions, has received an overwhelming show of support from professional sports teams, musicians and movie stars for fund-raiser in June to help his sister's children. His sister Rose Pannone died un a car accident last year.