Who We Help
It has been 18 years since we established The Jonathan Rizzo Memorial Foundation with an aim of supporting education and helping families in need.
Although Jonathan was only 19 at the time of his murder, his zeal to help others was an integral part of his being, and he embraced and embodied the concept of becoming a “Man for Others.” It is this spirit that we ask you to keep alive by supporting his Foundation.
As we continue to face very uncertain economic times, there are far too many families losing their homes, struggling to put food on the table, and wondering how they are going to pay for the ever-rising costs of food, health care and utilities. We fundamentally believe that no family should have to choose between warmth and food, or between health care and education, and are trying to use our resources to help eliminate that decision for as many people as possible.
The need seems to be impervious to the economic conditions in the country or state. Even though the local economy has been improving over the last few years, the reality is that we receive more requests for help every year than the previous year. As the number of requests for assistance with food, clothing, utility and medical expenses continuing to increase, we couldn’t find a better way to raise money than the events that you have so generously supported over the years.
Through your generosity, we have been able to raise over $1,200,000 to date, allowing the Foundation to help a number of families and organizations in the local area this year through the following:
Families
There are so many families who find themselves in tough situations all of them unique to them but all fundamentally the same. People need help to get past a certain set of obstacles that life has thrown at them. Some of those needs have included:
- Heat, electricity, and rent for families in need
- Medical assistance for families dealing with terminal or life threatening illnesses
- Providing children with winter clothing, food and Christmas presents
- Summer food support for elementary school families
- Temporary housing for families in need
- Thanksgiving / Christmas Food & Gift Baskets
Read more about the families the Foundation has been able to help with your support.
Organizations
Many local organizations exhaust their funding before the end of their year due to additional demands or increased costs for the services they are providing and in many cases they are unable to get additional funding. The Foundation works with many of these organizations including those listed here as part of our community outreach. This is a very important part of our mission and we anticipate continuing to provide this type of assistance in the future.
- Children’s Garden of Peace
- Crossroads for Kids
- Salvation Army Food Pantry
- South Shore Food Pantry
- Elementary School Programs
- Family Assistance Programs
- Plymouth Task Force
Read more about the organizations the Foundation has been able to help with your support.
We thank you for helping us keep Jonathan’s spirit of giving alive, and for allowing us to give so many families a reason to smile.