Tag Archives: Al’s Angels

Sandy Meets Santa

Posted on November 15, 2012 | Comments Off on Sandy Meets Santa

As thousands of families fled Hurricane Sandy, the last thing they thought about was toys.

But along with the rest of their possessions, countless children lost toys.

Now, with the holiday season near, the last thing displaced parents can do is think about — or pay for — toys.

It’s a stressful time for so many people in the tri-state area. Christmas and Hanukkah are sure to add one more level of anxiety.

As it does so often, Al’s Angels rides to the rescue.

The Westport organization — which in “good” times provides over 3000 families and 5000 children battling cancer, rare blood diseases and financial hardship with holiday meals and gifts — is expanding its mission.

Founder Al DiGuido and his hard-working, ever-smiling band of volunteers is organizing a toy drive to collect new, unwrapped gifts. They’ll bring a sliver of joy to thousands of kids who would otherwise have no toys this holiday season.

Banners are being made. They’ll be placed in Westport stores, whose owners have agreed to accept donated toys. (A full list will be published soon.) Starting November 24, you can also drop off toys at the rear entrance of 1175 Post Road East (opposite Crate & Barrel).

Cash donations are of course welcome. Click here, then find “Hurricane Sandy” in the clickdown “Donation Option Categories” menu.

Al’s Angels is always looking for man (and woman) (and kid) power too. If you’d like to help, email adiguido@yahoo.com.

There are many ways to be an angel this Christmas (or Hanukkah). Thanks to Al’s Angels for providing this special one.

Comments Off on Sandy Meets Santa

Posted in Children, Organizations, People, Weather

Tagged , ,

Mourning An “Angel”

Posted on October 2, 2012 | 3 comments

Westporter Fred Lexow — who started in the back office, and ended up running the equities trading desk at JP Morgan’s asset management unit — died last weekend. He was 49.

He had a heart attack related to complications from a 2-year battle with recurring staph infections.

Fred Lexow

According to Bloomberg News, doctors never determined how he contracted the initial infection that attacked his internal organs. He underwent dialysis treatments 3 days a week.

Despite his work responsibilities and health problems, Fred always made time for Westport. Al DiGuido — the founder of Al’s Angels — wrote this tribute to one of his most steadfast volunteers.

Fred and his wife Nan have been members and incredible supporters of Al’s Angels for many years. Fred was always warm to all that he met. He fought courageously for many years through each medical challenge he faced.

For those of us how have had the honor of knowing him, he was a person of great character and tremendous enthusiasm for life. Even during his toughest days, he wanted to do more for our organization. Several weeks ago, he chided me for not asking him to help more with Al’s Angels.

Fred loved the NY Yankees and Giants. He was a talented chef and an avid golfer. He loved boating, and spending time with his family and friends. Beyond his extensive work with Al’s Angels, Fred was also a member of the Noroton Fire Department.

Fred was a true Angel — always willing to help whenever we called on him. He was one of the hundreds of people who would arrive early and work until late during all of our holiday meal assembly events. He worked hard despite his own physical challenges. He believed in our mission deeply.

I know that today he is surrounded by a legion of Angels in heaven.

(Memorial contributions may be directed to the Sylvie Sutton Lexow Education Fund; care of James Saraceni, Esq.; 5 Mott Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850.)

3 Comments

Posted in Organizations, People

Tagged , ,

Memorial Day 2012: Westport On Parade

Posted on May 28, 2012 | 4 comments

Happy Memorial Day!
Who doesn’t love a parade?

The start of the parade.

Al’s Angels — one of the many civic organizations to march (or ride).

The Y’s Men’s float was, as usual, spectacular. This one honored Korean War veterans — complete with freezing mist.

Middle school musicians keep the beat.

Buck Iannacone (left), this year’s grand marshal, poses with his son and granddaughter. Buck’s great-grandchild was born 10 days ago.

CLASP celebrated 30 years of service to people with disabilities.

Staples junior Tyler Jent sings “America the Beautiful,” framed by the doughboy statue and flag at half-staff.

The next generation celebrates past ones.

4 Comments

Posted in Children, Organizations, People, Teenagers, Westport life

Tagged , , ,

A Fabled Road Race Returns

Posted on April 15, 2012 | 5 comments

Remember 1978? The year that President Carter convened the Camp David summit; Rev. Jim Jones’ followers committed mass suicide in Guyana, and Sony introduced the Walkman.

It was also the year the Westport Young Woman’s League introduced a 10K race.

The women’s organization and road running may not seem a natural fit, but 35 years ago 10K races were all the rage. Members traveled around the state to watch other races. They set a course and rounded up business sponsors.

By 1979 they were, um, off to the races. Running past the Minuteman statue near Compo Beach gave the April event a name it’s had ever since.

600 runners paid the initial $3 registration fee, and started at Jesup Green. The League provided coffee and donuts, water stations, electronic timers and t-shirts. The Staples Jazz Band played at the finish line.

The 2nd year, rain turned everyone’s labels to mush. But the race was a hit. Within a few years, proceeds contributed to charity doubled.

In 1985 the starting point was moved to the beach. The distance was changed to 5 miles. Two years later, a “scamper” race was added.

The start of a Minute Man race is always fun. This was the scene at last year's 10K.

The 1999 event featured online registration. The technological change met an immovable force — snow, hail and rain — but by then nothing could stop the Minute Man Race.

For the 25th annual running in 2003 the length was changed again, to a 5K. The hope — that more recreational runners would sign up for a shorter race — worked.

A 10K was added later, in honor of the League’s 50th anniversary.

Last year's kids' race. On your mark, get set, go!

This year’s events — a 5K, 10K and kids’ fun run — is set for Sunday, April 29. There will be over 1,000 runners. 120 volunteers will coordinate everything — including 4 water stations.

Participants can pick the recipient of their registration donation from over 2 dozen local charities. Alphabetically, they range from A Better Chance and Al’s Angels to the Westport Public Library.

Much has changed since 1978, including the course, distance and number of participants.

But it’s still one of Westport’s favorite events. It still benefits many worthy organizations.

And runners still listen to music as they pound the pavement.

On iPods. Not Walkmen.

(Click here for information on the Minute Man race, including registration.)

5 Comments

Posted in Beach, Looking back, Organizations, Sports

Tagged , , , ,

Al’s Angels “Strike” Gold

Posted on March 20, 2011 | 1 comment

Like any philanthropic organization, Al’s Angels spends as much time raising funds as it does dispensing them.  There’s a constant struggle to come up with new, creative ways to ask people for money.

The Westport group — well-known for providing holiday meals and gifts to children and families suffering with cancer and rare blood diseases — hits the mark with its upcoming effort.

Their “24 Hours of Strikes” is a bowl-a-thon at Lucky Strike Lanes in midtown Manhattan.  Anyone can sign up to bowl a half-hour slot on the weekend of April 2-3.  They then ask friends, relatives and colleagues for pledges:  $1, $5, $10 or more for each pin knocked down during that time “frame.”

Strikes are triple — knocking down 10 pins counts as 30.

Lucky Strike Lanes -- a bowling alley for the 21st century.

Lucky Strike is nothing like the old Westport Lanes; this is a party venue.  There’s a great club/lounge, with music, food and beverage (and a bar).  There are 10 billiards tables.  Spectators are welcome (tickets are $100).

Al’s Angels’ goal is to raise over $75,000.  It’s ambitious — but founder  Al DiGuido is up to the challenge.

He’s signed up for a slot (April 2, 12-12:30 p.m.), and vows to “crush” 300 pins.

Knowing Al, he’ll solicit hundreds of pledges.  He’ll reach his goal.

He’ll bring joy to hundreds of families that desperately need it.

And he and his Al’s Angels family will have a great time, doing very good things.

(To sign up to bowl — or sponsor a bowler — click here.  For a video of their good works, see below.)

1 Comment

Posted in Children, Organizations, People, Sports

Tagged , , ,

Our Next Great Holiday Tradition

Posted on December 26, 2010 | 11 comments

Christmas is 364 days away.  But — perhaps inspired by today’s “blizzard” — Al DiGuido and Steve Rubin are already looking ahead.

Al noticed that Westport doesn’t have an “official” Christmas tree — nor any “official” ceremony marking the beginning of the holiday season.

The Saugatuck River Bridge, all lit up this holiday season.

But, in a letter to the Westport News, Al — founder and driving force behind Al’s Angels — proposed that his organization work with the town to make the Saugatuck Bridge lighting the “official” holiday season lighting for Westport.

Al said:

It would be incredible if we could close the bridge down for several hours on one magical night.  Local restaurants could provide hot chocolate, donuts and other holiday treats — actually on the bridge, when we throw the switch.  Area vocal groups could provide holiday music.

I know Santa and Frosty would definitely make an appearance too.

While other towns may have “trees,” no one has a bridge like ours.  As Westporters, we love the differences in our town.

Let’s celebrate them!

He urged interested Westporters to contact him: adiguido@yahoo.com.

RTM member Steve Rubin seconds the motion.  He says:

What a grand idea!  What a better honor for the Cribari family!  What a true fun tradition for Westport!

The official name of the span is the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge.  Born in1918, he directed countless numbers of cars as a police traffic official.  Few people loved Westport and its history more than “Crowbar” did.

To continue to light the bridge from Thanksgiving to New Year’s would be an exciting Westport happening.  It would encompass the entire holiday season for all.

Illuminating the bridge and nearby donated trees has become a Westport institution.  Al DiGuido and friends started this tradition about a decade ago with other proud Westport residents, including myself.

Taxpayers’ funds have never been used.  I think anybody driving by or across this bridge when it glows with lights would be happy to kick in a few dollars if requested to continue this tradition.

There you have it:  The next great new town tradition.

And — this being Westport — the time to start working on it is yesterday.

11 Comments

Posted in Organizations, People, Saugatuck

Tagged , , , ,

Time To Help

Posted on October 24, 2010 | Comments Off on Time To Help

Al’s Angels have been hard at work.

The Westport organization holds a series of fundraisers — Angels in July, 24 Hours of Hope, Monster Mash — to provide over 2000 families with holiday meals, and over 5,000 children with holiday toys and gifts.

Now the real work begins.

Assembling and delivering Thanksgiving meal bins doesn’t just happen.  On Sat., Nov. 13, many hands are needed at the Gault Oil Company truck depot (12 Willard Rd., Norwalk, behind the new CVS on Route 1).

The day begins with a 6-9 a.m. shift.  A thousand bins must be organized; each must be stickered with the Al’s Angels logo, and affixed with labels and  holiday cards.

Bins must then be loaded — 1 item at a time.  Many of the items are heavy; some are fragile.

From 9-11 a.m., the Angels are in full action mode.  All of the bins will be loaded with great food.  It’s a hectic, wonderful, serious, fun and empowering time.  This is the time for helpers with great organizational skills, so that everything can fit and the lids closed properly.

The strongest volunteers are needed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Bins — weighing over 70 pounds each — must be lifted and loaded into trucks.

Ready to help?  Contact Al DiGuido, master Angel:  ADiGuido@zetainteractive.com.

(For more information, click here.)

Comments Off on Time To Help

Posted in Organizations, People

Tagged ,

Al’s Angels Asks For Aid

Posted on August 27, 2010 | 2 comments

Al DiGuido needs help.

The founder of Al’s Angels — the organization that for the past 6 years has provided hope, love and joy to children challenged by cancer and rare blood diseases, and to their families ravaged by the ensuing financial hardship — is gearing up for another holiday season.

This Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah, the group plans to donate over 2,000 family meals — each bin is filled with $100 worth of groceries — and gifts to more than 5,000 children.

But Santa’s elves won’t make it happen.

Westporters will.

Al’s Angels is launching what they call “the most incredible outpouring of love and support for the work we all do for our special children and their families.”

On the weekend of October 2-3, the Edge Fitness Club in Norwalk hosts a “24 Hours of Hope Fitness Fundraiser.”  From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, participants will work out on bikes, ellipticals or treadmills. A minimum of $60 in fundraising is requested for each hour.

There are also Zumba, spinning and yoga classes.  At least $60 in pledges is requested for those events too.

Al’s goal for those 24 hours is ambitious:  over $100,000.  To reach it, he’s starting now.

But he needs everyone’s help.

(To register, create a fundraising team, donate, or receive more information, call 203-254-1759; email adiguido@24hoursofhope.com, or click on www.alsangels.org)

2 Comments

Posted in Organizations, People

Tagged ,

Tiger And Al

Posted on December 13, 2009 | Comments Off on Tiger And Al

Around here, Al DiGuido is known as the founder of Al’s Angels — one of Westport’s most hard-working, community-directed service organizations.

In the real world, Al is chief executive of CEO of Zeta Interactive, a New York company that monitors more than 100 million blogs, message boards and social media posts to analyze the feelings of potential consumers.

In today’s New York Times, Al weighed in on Tiger Woods’ recent woes.  The formerly squeaky clean, bed-hopping corporate-icon golfer and erstwhile idol has suffered “the quickest fall from positive to negative we’ve ever seen” in the 5 years his company has measured such buzz.

In other words:  Tiger Woods is no angel.

Comments Off on Tiger And Al

Posted in Organizations, People, Sports

Tagged , , ,

Al’s Angels’ Faithful Directory

Posted on November 24, 2009 | 3 comments

Al’s Angels is one of Westport’s hardest working, most effective and least publicized community service groups.

Tireless fundraising provides holiday meals and gifts for special children, and families in tremendous need.  Many Westporters donate time and money — and local businesses offer cash, products and facilities too.

Al DiGuido, president of Al’s Angels, says:

It is the unwavering support of Bill Mitchell, the love of the  Gault family, the great heart of Tony Aitoro and his incredible team, our friends at a dash of salt, Mike’s Deli, The Black Duck, Mansion Clam House, Osianna, Riverview Restaurant, Dunville’s, Morton’s Steakhouse, Angela Mia, Norm Bloom & Son, Westport Aquaculture, Black Rock Vintners and so many more who provide us with a luanching pad that is so essential to our work and success.  No words can express the level of appreciation I have for this incredible group.

No words — but Al is a man of deeds.  He has put together a list of the many merchants, companies and groups that support Al’s Angels.  He hopes Westporters will “Shop With the Angels” this holiday season.  That, he says, “sends a message that we truly appreciate all they do.”

What an awesome idea.  The directory — available here — includes “Angel Spirits,” “Angel Apparel and Bling,” and “Angel Restaurants,” among much more.

The list also features services to remember long after holiday shopping is done: electricians, landscapers, snow plowers, builders, bankers, auto restorers, photographers and the like.

“None of these organizations has asked Al’s Angels for any recompense for the great work they do,” Al says. 

“But I feel an obligation of all Angels to support and give back to partners that answer our call every time.  Let’s show our appreciation to them.”

It’s hard to imagine a better holiday message than that.

(For more information on Al’s Angels, click here, or call 203-254-1759.)

3 Comments

Posted in Local business, Organizations

Tagged