Thursday, October 1, 2026
Two months after Charlie Kenney, of Seaford, was killed in a car accident, Valley stream resident Desiree Fasulo has stepped up with a heartfelt fundraising campaign to help support his wife and two children.
Fasulo coordinated a network of friends from the South Shore boating community in a Feb. 15 fundraiser at Orangetheory Fitness in Seaford, raising $1,300 to support his wife, Michelle Kenney, and their children, Nicholas, 13, and Juliana, 9.
“It was just so magical and beautiful and special, and you felt the love,” Fasulo said. “We really are getting her and her family through this by showing her so much love and support.”
Charlie Kenney, 50, died Dec. 14 in a car accident on the Southern State Parkway while driving home during a snowstorm after selling Christmas trees. Two months later, friends chose to mark the anniversary not only with remembrance, but also with action.
Fasulo and Charlie Kenney first met about five years ago through a shared love of boating. Both families kept boats and regularly gathered at Zach’s Bay with a close-knit group they called their “boat family.” They participated together in events such as the Freeport boat parade and spent Sundays on the water. Over time, Fasulo said, the families became deeply connected.
After Charlie Kenney’s death, Fasulo felt compelled to organize something tangible to help support his family. Drawing on years of experience with the Valley Stream Parent Teacher Association, she approached the effort the way she would a school fundraiser — assembling a team, assigning roles and moving quickly.
The idea evolved into a special Orangetheory class with a fee of $25. The staff members at the fitness studio donated their time, and 33 people attended the class, with others contributing even if they could not participate. All proceeds, collected in an envelope, were personally handed over to Michelle Kenney during the event.
“Watching our community rally around the Kenney family has been incredibly emotional,” head coach at Orange Theory Seaford John Calzadilla said. “When one of our own is going through a difficult time, we show up, and this fundraiser is a reflection of that support and love.”
Fasulo also created “Charlie’s Angels” T-shirts to honor Charlie Kenney’s memory and foster unity among supporters. Initially intended as a small gesture, the shirts quickly gained traction after family members placed a bulk order. Although no profit was made from the shirts, Fasulo said the visible show of solidarity helped build momentum and encourage participation in the fundraiser.
“Now they’re already saying, ‘We want a new design for Charlie’s Angels, maybe with the design on the back, and one for the men,’ and so I’m already planning the second edition of Charlie shirts,” Fasulo said.
Michelle Kenney had been a regular at Orangetheory prior to her husband’s death, but stopped attending in the weeks after the accident. She said returning to the fitness studio required significant emotional effort.
Once inside, however, she found comfort in the presence of friends, family and staff. During the 60-minute class, her two children also worked out alongside her.
At the conclusion of the class, Michelle Kenney addressed those gathered and thanked them for their support. Participants then surrounded her in a group hug. Fasulo described the moment as powerful and reflective of the collective desire to help the Kenney family move forward.
Michelle Kenney, 40, described her husband as a protector who would help anyone in need. Charlie Kenney was raised with three sisters after losing their mother at a young age, which is when he developed a nurturing yet determined personality, consistently putting others first, she said.
“He did everything for any one of his friends or family members, or anybody who maybe he didn’t even have a close connection with,” Michelle Kenney said. “If they needed a helping hand, he was there. It didn’t matter how little or big, he just wanted to be there to help everybody he could.”
Since her husband’s death, she has navigated sleepless nights and the responsibilities of becoming the sole provider and head of household. She works as director of client services for Primary Vascular Care, a mobile practice headquartered in the Bronx. Colleagues, family and friends supported her in the immediate aftermath of her husband’s death, sitting with her daily during the first week.
Fasulo said plans are already underway for a one-year anniversary fundraiser in December 2026, potentially featuring multiple back-to-back classes to accommodate demand.
For Michelle Kenney, strength now means getting up each day and demonstrating resilience to her children. Juliana is a student at the Jennifer Napolitano School of Performing Arts in Seaford, and Nicholas, who attends Seaford Middle School, recently was accepted into St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington — a goal his father had long encouraged.
“I can’t even put it into words what it’s like,” Michelle Kenney said. “I don’t want to say our life is destroyed, and that I have such a horrible life, because that’s not the case, because I am left with his legacy. He’s built me and prepared me for who I am today.”
