Since the debut of its on-site booth at the Nouveau Riche College in October 2008, The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation (FEPF) has received tremendous support from our community - raising over $72,000 as of the October 2009 College!
In October 2008 and December 2008, Nouveau Riche Community Members wholeheartedly paid forward their success! Many took advantage of the opportunity to learn about the worthy charities that The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation supports and volunteer opportunities available across the country, spread holiday cheer to local nursing homes, plus partake in amazing daily drawings and silent auctions with prizes such as NFL quarterback Brian Griese-autographed Buccaneers footballs, Alice Copper-autographed guitars, get-a-ways, tickets to a show in the company of Jim Piccolo, and more great prizes! The result: over $14k in contributions from community members with Nouveau Riche Corporation matching, for a grand total of $28k to benefit Help4Teenz, Judi's House, Starlight Children’s Foundation, and Solid Rock Foundation.
The spirit of giving continued on to the April 2009 College, where The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation partnered up with Nouveau Riche and the Financial Advisors at the Peoria, Arizona, office of Smith Barney to help support our troops stationed overseas. During College week, community members made donations to help purchase items to fill Easter baskets or to donate basket items, and write personal messages to the soldiers. Many also gave of their time to assemble the baskets. Throughout college week, community members raised over $6k, with Nouveau Riche Corporation matching their generosity, for a grand total of $13k to support our troops and benefit Starlight Children's Foundation and Solid Rock Foundation.
At the July 2009 Nouveau Riche College, it is with great pleasure and appreciation that The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation boasts of raising over $20k for the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation! The week-long FEPF booth kicked off with fun and interactive contests, including a prom/senior photo "Who's Who?" and voting for "Nouveau Riche High" Prom King and Queen. Proceeds from these activities totaled $10,000 and will benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation in sponsoring special proms nationwide for seriously ill and/or handicapped teenagers. That's not all... later in the week, rock legend Alice Cooper paid a visit to the Nouveau Riche Community at the "Cooler than Cool" social gathering where he personally autographed stone tiles, representing the cost of building one square foot of "The Rock" Teen Center. Over $11,000 was raised to help build this remarkable teen center, and participating donors had the chance to take a photo with the iconic rocker himself. FEPF Director Sonya Lee expressed her gratitude: "Our success was truly a team effort – generous and caring students, leaders, and instructors and, of course, exceptional volunteers at our booth!"
Most recently, during the October 2009 College, Nouveau Riche Community Members participated in three great opportunities to live out RAW™ while having some fun! Students cast their votes for "Teacher of the Year" and raised over $7,000 to support the Starlight Foundation/Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation Prom Program (hosted by The Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation, Nouveau Riche and Starlight) for terminally and chronically ill teens. Honored as our "Teacher of the Year", Nouveau Riche Instructor Chris Albin received a handmade, framed picture from a Starlight child and a custom "Nouveau Riche High" letter sweater. The largest one-sum donor, who contributed $625, was also awarded a custom sweater. Plus, a Silent Auction offered Community Members the chance to bid on six items autographed by rock legend Alice Cooper as well as a Fender guitar that will be personally autographed for the winner! The auction raised over $3,000 to support the Solid Rock Foundation's "The Rock" Teen Center project. Finally, Community Members had the golden opportunity to make a difference in their lives and others by purchasing the newly released book, Three Feet from Gold, by best-selling authors Sharon L. Lechter and Greg S. Reid, as well as tickets to the Three Feet from Gold event (hosted by The Napoleon Hill Foundation). Twenty-five percent of all sales proceeds benefitted the Frank Edward Piccolo Foundation's efforts to support several worthy national and local charities.