Project Community Presents Charles Fazzino Award
of the Heart to PMHS Students
Brenna Rini & Jonathan White

By Joe Nunziata

Project Community, Inc. is one of Pelham’s leading charitable organizations that has the unique distinction of having healthcare professionals provide visionary programs for students and their families. Each year they proudly acknowledge the exemplary volunteer work of Pelham Memorial High School students with the Charles Fazzino Award of the Heart, named in honor of the international pop artist Charles Fazzino, whose sensitivity to community needs has made him a valued friend of Project Community for over 30 years. The award recognizes generosity of spirit, creativity, and resources that support innovative programs that inform and offer practical choices to prevent illness for children, teens and adults. 

This year’s recipients are Brenna Rini & Jonathan White.

They have been teen mentors with Project Community’s Teen Project CHILDD program for more than five years where they volunteered for three hours on various Fridays, being very interactive with the teens. Many of their discussions revolved around current social issues which are extremely relevant, including current school events and activities, as well as college.

Jonathan will study Journalism at SUNY Old Westbury this fall. Brenna will be attending Fairfield University in September, and is interested in film, editing, and gaming technology.  

Project Community brings a rich 37-year history of being the only charitable organization in Pelham that is spearheaded and directed by healthcare professionals as well as experienced leaders from multiple disciplines. As such, their mission of “knowledge to navigate” helps them identify and respond to the gaps in knowledge and unmet needs that result in inherent dangers and challenges for Pelham’s youth and their families, by offering visionary programs throughout the year. 

The Project CHILDD (Community Help In Learning about Developmental Disabilities) program is Pelham’s only program for youth with special needs that provides education and socialization through art, music, dance, and yoga, to encourage therapeutic expression and increase confidence. This confidence supports the “Courage to Try.” The program is supervised by a professional nurse and educator, who are supported by dedicated local teen mentors. Parents get valuable time to themselves.

Visit projectcommunity.us.