The community comes together for Kelly
A charity event held at Danbury's Palace Theater on November 8 sent all of its proceeds
Nico's employees Francisco Marin (L) and Krissy Lombardo (R) with Kelly Galarza (middle) to a local family whose youngest member is fighting brain cancer. The first annual Karing for Kelly benefit was a fun day of music, food and raffles, and it helped relieve some of the Galarza family's many expenses. Twenty-three -month-old Kelly Galarza was diagnosed with medulloblastoma last winter, and since then, her parents have been unable to work as they travel with Kelly from medical center to medical center.
Two weeks after the benefit, Kelly's father Luis was happy to report that she is doing well after a recent stem cell transplant, and that she may recover in as little as three months. He also expressed amazement at the outcome of the event. "Hundreds of people did so much for Kelly," Galarza said. "I can't explain how I feel. It's wonderful."
Galarza said that without the help that he and his family have received, it's likely that they would have lost their house. Once he is able to go back to work, he plans on doing what he can to help other families with sick children. "We saw so many sick kids in the hospital," he said. "They would pass away every week. We had it hard, but so many others had it worse." The chance to help will come again next year. Sponsors Joe DaSilva, owner of The Palace, and George Korres, owner of Nico's Pizza and Pasta, who catered the event, are planning on helping out more than one family with the second Karing for Kelly.
With only a month's preparation, Karing for Kelly saw a huge turnout and a remarkable amount of camaraderie from the community. The main hallway of The Palace was lined with local businesses contributing their items and services to the raffles, and two members of the Danbury Police Department could be found behind the buffet line, serving food to attendees. The entire staff at Nico's worked non-stop to curate the event, and DaSilva donated space next door at one of Danbury's most famous venues, The Palace, which is in the process of receiving an audio, video and lighting makeover.
"There was almost too much to auction," Korres remarked. "The dj was wonderful, the bands were wonderful, the time, effort and goodwill of everybody was all wonderful." Korres is still receiving donations and expects to add $2000 to the charity funds by the end of the year. Anyone who wishes to donate can send checks anytime to Union Savings Bank, c/o Karing for Kelly, 225 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810.
Danbury's music scene has taken up Kelly's cause with another fundraising event coming up on Sunday, December 20. Cousin Larry's Cafe at 1 Elm Street will host the benefit, which will run from afternoon through closing and will feature at least 10 bands, including surf-rock favorites Zen Dudes and the Universe, and folk rocker Brenton Vaughan. Nico's will be catering again, and there are sure to be great raffle prizes, including tattoo gift certificates, a keg of beer and even an Xbox.
Also featured online at TheMercurial. com. Visit TheMercurial.com for video footage from Karing for Kelly and for more information on the benefit show at Cousin Larry's.
