Wayne UNICO donates to police officer battling cancer
Scholarship funds, stocking food pantries and helping individuals in need are reasons the latest incarnation of Wayne UNICO was formed in 2011. So far the new group has donated more than $50,000 to about 20 local causes, said past President Anthony DeGennaro.
The non-profit has raised money through events, including calendar contests to benefit high schoolers, golf outings to fill the food pantry and dinner dances to help families in need.
The Wayne chapter is part of UNICO National, an Italian-American service organization with “service above self” as its mantra. UNICO, originally named for the Italian word “unique,” used to describe the dedication of its members, has come to be defined as “unity, neighborliness, integrity, charity, and opportunity,” according to UNICO National.
Both charity and opportunity came together for Wayne UNICO’s most recent donation.
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On Tuesday evening Wayne police Detective Jason Clemente was presented with a $2,500 check to help defer cost for medical expenses. The Wayne officer of 14 years is receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer. He is not back at work full-time yet, but said he hopes to be soon.
Clemente said he was “very thankful” for the donation which he said came “out of the blue.”
He said he was thankful for UNICO's generosity. "If anyone has been through it, it's a difficult journey," he said of battling cancer. He said the journey hasn't ended for him and he will keep fighting. He told the group he was originally diagnosed with "a baseball-sized tumor" on his pancreas, and after some treatment, he learned it had spread to his liver and spine. He said he feels "OK" and everyone tells him he looks good. He said his healthy diet, positive outlook and prayer will help him in his fight. He said he's fighting for himself, but also for his 16-year-old daughter, 13-year-old son and his wife.
"Everyday I wake up is a blessing...every time I get out of bed it's a blessing," he said. "It made me realize you don't know how long you have here on Earth, so be nice to people," Clemente said.
DeGennaro said the organization learned of Clemente’s situation socially and chose to defer funds raised from the March dinner dance, which had not yet been designated to a cause, to help the officer. During the presentation, current president Angela Gregorowicz thanked the officers for their work, and added "we wanted to help you out a little bit" through the donation.
Several years ago, UNICO also came together to help the family of a Wayne police officer who suffered a spinal injury during Superstorm Sandy, when a tree fell on top of his patrol car. By early 2015, Sgt. Robert Franco had returned to work full-time following rehabilitation.
The organization's next fundraiser will benefit a firefighter in town who is also suffering from cancer.
Wayne UNICO meets every first Tuesday of the month at 7:15 p.m. at Anthony Francos at 1176 Hamburg Turnpike. The next meeting is scheduled for June 6.
The organization is accepting new members of Italian heritage, or the spouses of those with Italian heritage. For more information, email info@wayneunico.org.
Email: presinzanoj@northjersey.com