Chianti's Donates $1,300 to Help Bereaved Families (11/09)

Saratoga Springs, NY – Chianti Il Ristorante in Saratoga Springs recently honored Angel Names Association (ANA), a local nonprofit organization that assists bereaved families, as the recipient of its “Twelve” program for October 2009.

Owner David Zecchini developed the program. On the twelfth day of each month, Chianti features an area nonprofit organization that is giving back to the community. Patrons who dine at Chianti that evening can designate 30% of their bill to go to the charity.

”It is so important to us to give back to the Saratoga Springs community and we were immediately drawn to the fact that the Angel Names Association was located right in the heart of Saratoga Springs,” said David Zecchini, Owner of Chianti’s. “The Angel Names Association has taken as its cause such a personal, intimate situation faced by many families. Anything that we could do for such a caring organization, we were willing to do and they were selected right away,” added Zecchini.

ANA, which held its annual meeting at the restaurant that evening, helps families who endure the tragedy of pregnancy loss and infant death. “These families have often used their dispensable income to purchase baby’s crib or finish the nursery,” commented Michelle Mosca, ANA President and Cofounder. “They do not have the means, nor are they prepared, to then face the unanticipated financial burden of their baby’s sudden – and often unexplained - death.” Compounding this, says Mosca, is a need for increased awareness of the prevalence and impact of infant death on the community.

Angel Names Association offers grief education programs for service providers, families and the community; financial assistance programs for end-of-life and counseling services; an annual Memorial Walk and Still Parents Luncheon; a lending library, Memory Box Program, and funding for stillbirth research. ANA is staffed entirely by volunteers and 100% of donations are used to fund ANA programs.

For more information about ANA, please visit www.angelnames.org or call Michelle Mosca at 654-2411.

Pictured, above right: Chianti Owner David Zecchini and ANA President Michelle Mosca pose with $1,294+ check from Chianti Il Ristorante.