Remembering Jack

Keith Mattes of Hewlett, from left; Ronnie and Carina D’Alessandro of Levittown; and Peter Griffin of Merrick, wore “Team Jack” shirts.

Jina Papadoniou/Herald

Kevin Glenn, a co-founder of J.A.C.K., dressed for the JACKtoberfest.

Jina Papadoniou/Herald

Matt Buck, general manager of the Plattduetsche, from left; JACK co-founders Patty Buck and Kevin Glenn; Emma Perlungher, 9; Erika Perlungher; and Matt Perlungher worked together to hold J.A.C.K.toberfest last Thursday.

Jina Papadoniou/Herald

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Jack Perlungher, of Wantagh, was only 5 years old when he was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer.

To keep Jack’s legacy alive and help other families dealing with rare diseases, “Join A Cause for Kids,” or J.A.C.K., was created by Jack’s friends and family — his father, Matt Perlungher, a Nassau County police officer; mother, Erika; and sister, Emma, 8 — shortly after he passed away in September of 2010.

Since a close family friend, Kevin Glenn, co-founded J.A.C.K., along with Patty Buck, the family has held two fundraisers at the Plattduetsche in Franklin Square — an event in the spring and “J.A.C.K.toberfest” on Oct. 27, in the Plattduetsche ballroom. Nearly 200 locals attended the event.

“We wanted to keeps Jack’s legacy going with a festival named in his honor in the month he was born,” Glenn said.

For the event, the ballroom was adorned with an Oktoberfest-themed decorations, food and beer was served, raffle prizes were awarded, and T-shirts and sports memorabilia were sold. Raffles were provided by the Plattduetsche

Glenn said the event raised enough funds to feed a few families of sick and underprivileged locals, as well as purchase them gifts for the Holiday season. For more information about J.A.C.K., visit www.jackcharity.org.

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