By Danny Teigman
The Theresa Russo Foundation was organized in 1992 after their third daughter, Theresa, who was born with microcephalus and cerebral palsy, died.
"We, as a family, felt like we needed to give back and help other children with disabilities and their families," Russo said in an interview with the Herald.
Last year's fund-raiser, Russo said, netted $70,000. Some of the proceeds went to Theresa's Fun Place playground, which is part of the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (UCPN) in Roosevelt.
"Most of the equipment is adapted for children with special needs," Theresa's mother Susan said.
Donations have also gone to the Pal-O-Mine school in Islandia, where these children get the rare opportunity to ride on horses.
"Being on a horse allows children to work on balance and motor functions. It's [also] a great opportunity for children to have fun," Vincent Russo said.
The May 5 dinner marks only the second time in 12 years that the fund-raiser will fall on Theresa's birthday, Russo said. This is also the first year that the foundation will present a Theresa Lifetime Achievement Award, dedicated posthumously to Scott Pollock, who passed away in December 2005 due to an aneurysm in his neck. He was 16. Also to be honored will be Charles P. Sabatino, recipient of the 2006 Theresa Award in Community Service.
Pollock was born without legs and with uneven arms. Despite these challenges, Russo said he became an inspiration to others, playing basketball for the Henry Viscardi School of Albertson.
"He worked so hard at it that he was the captain of his basketball team and he was really a leader to those kids," Russo said.
His parents, Mady and Scott and sister, Lauren, will receive the award on his behalf.
Sabatino learned of his award back in February. "I have been in the field of juvenile and aging advocacy for 30 years, [and] I was pretty flabbergasted, I've never gotten an award like this before," he said.
His work in child advocacy began while still in college when he interned for the Adolescent Development for the New York State Division of Youth Camps. Along with his wife, Christine, Russo said he later ran a group-home for troubled teens.
After receiving a law degree from Georgetown University and working at a psychiatric hospital in Washington D.C., Sabatino later worked for and became the director of the Commission on Law and Aging, sponsored by the American Bar Association.
As former presidents of the National Academy of Elder Law, NAELA, Sabatino said both he and Russo have similar views on disability. "For Vincent, disability issues are ageless, affecting people from birth to death, so advocacy is important across the age spectrum."
Comments about this story? DTeigman@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 213
