By Joe Adinolfi
Special to the Record-Journal
WALLINGFORD — Jim Zandri, owner of the popular Zandri’s Stillwood Inn on South Colony Road in Wallingford, will host his 13th annual Party for a Cure on Sept. 6.
The annual event has raised more than $233,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association since 1997.
Last year alone the rally pulled in $33,620 – the most ever raised through one event. Our goal every year is to raise a dollar more than the year before. If we do that this year, we’re going to hit the quarter million mark,” Zandri said.
“I think it’s a great event, because Jim gets everything donated, so all of your $45 goes to the MDA, which is great,” said Marissa Adinolfi of North Haven. Adinolfi was presented with the MDA’s Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award at last year’s event.
One hundred percent of all the proceeds are donated directly to the MDA. “My staff volunteers their time to put on the event,” Zandri said.
Zandri’s suppliers also donate food and beverages for the event.
“I’ve known him for years; we’ve run other events there,” said Neil Velleca, president of The Sons and Daughters of Italy lodge no. 2805.
The lodge has pledged to donate all the bingo money from the month of August to the MDA. “We make money to donate to charity — that’s the main purpose of our organization,” Velleca said.
Although the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon Party for a Cure is televised from Las Vegas, the proceeds from Party for a Cure remain in-state. The MDA has an office in Hamden that uses the money to help Connecticut residents suffering from any one of the 43 neuromuscular conditions.
Zandri became involved with the Jerry Lewis Telethon after the state’s former remote location dropped out. Soon after, the MDA came to Zandri’s office to solicit donations and told him that if he gave $1,500 to the telethon, he could present during Connecticut’s 15minute television spot.
“I said, well maybe instead of me donating the check, we can run an event here that night,” he said/ About 100 people attended Zandri’s first event.
“I worked with them and I put it together; we kind of went into it blind,” Zandri said. More than 300 were in attendance for last year’s party.
Zandri has been a major supporter of people suffering from MD in Connecticut for years, but when close family friend and former bartender Al Draghi died in late 2006 from Lou Gehrig’s disease, things became personal.
Zandri was inspired by Draghi’s bravery in the face of the disease. “He was part of a group that went out to eat every Thursday and he continued to do so until he died. We were still picking himup in the wheelchair and bringing him out,” Zandri said.
Draghi was a strong supporter of the Party for a Cure before his diagnosis. He encouraged other bartenders to follow his example and donate the tips they made working at the party.
Zandri believes very firmly in what he does, and he hopes others feel the same way.
“When I solicit this party, I’m not asking people for money that I take any part of. I don’t take anything out of this,” Zandri said. “I have this facility and I have the ability and every once in a while, you have to do something for humanitarian reasons”.
The party will be held at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn at 1074 South Colony Road, Wallingford. Tickets are $45 per person. To reserve a seat, call Zandri’s at (203) 269-6695.
Tags: Association, Dystrophy, Jerry Lewis, Labor Day, MDA, Muscular, Telethon