By: Hector Flores
The award ceremony was held on Friday at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury.
Gail Volk, executive director of the Community Wellness Council of the Bellmores and Merricks, was thrilled that Valenti had received the award, and said that he was the most accommodating businessman she's ever worked with.
"He is somebody who is very accessible," she said. "During the Clean Indoor Air Act legislative hearing, Tom was one of the business owners who provided testimony with me. He was perfect for the hearing because his restaurant had been smoke-free for years."
Volk added that Valenti is an annual sponsor of the Community Wellness Walk, and anytime she gathers with her council members, they meet at Piccolo. "He is an all-around great guy," Volk said. "And his family has been very involved in their community."
Mark Meyerowitz, president of the Kiwanis Club of the Bellmores, has known Valenti for six years and said he's the kind of person who helps whenever he can. "Anytime we've had a meeting, he has always opened his restaurant to us," Meyerowitz said. "During the Strawberry Festival, which he is a vendor of, he has always taken care of the volunteers. He is generally a good man."
When Valenti found out that he was named Small Businessman of the Year, he was honored, and credited his father, Tom Valenti Sr., with setting an example of community involvement for him.
"My father has been serving the community for 45 years," he said. "He started Tommy's Pizza on Bedford Avenue and taught me to give back and say nothing. He told me, 'If more than two people know you did something for someone, you're doing it for the wrong reason. It should be self-rewarding between you and the person you helped.'"
The outpouring of community support for the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center inspired Valenti to give back to his community more than ever.
Days after Sept. 11, Valenti witnessed every Bellmore community organization band together and raise funds for the families who had lost loved ones. Residents also collected food, shovels, socks, boots and other supplies for the firefighters and volunteers working at ground zero.
The selfless dedication that Valenti saw led him to create Bellmore's very own flag. "I wanted to show my appreciation to my community," he said. "The flag represents the community and people who make the community better: schools, fire departments, charitable organizations, civic groups and local businesses."
While Valenti was working on Bellmore's flag, he realized that the presidents of local civic and fraternal organizations often did not know one another. So, he has endeavored to bring Bellmore community organizations closer together through the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores.
"Being a part of your community is vital for the success of any home or business owner," said Valenti. "Involvement makes communities strong, and it's the right thing to do to maintain the value of your home or business. But after a while, you realize how good it feels to help other people, and there is nothing more rewarding than to help your neighbor. I just want to thank my father and my brother [Robert] for working with me in the restaurant and giving me extra time to get involved."
For 10 years, Valenti has also volunteered at the Bellmore Memorial Library, teaching teenagers how to make pizzas. In addition to the chamber, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fraternal Order of Police and Bellmore Kiwanis Club.
He's also co-owner of Kutting Kraze Salon and Karizma Beauty Supplies, which are also in Bellmore.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
