Chris, (27) graduated from St. Joseph by the Sea High School on Staten Island in 2003. After high school, Chris received his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University. He began working full time at the South Shore YMCA on Staten Island in 2010 as a Youth & Family Coordinator, overseeing sports clinics and working with youths, teens and families on a daily basis. While working full time, Chris managed to go back to school for his Masters degree in Sports Management at St. John’s campus in Queens.
In 2004, Chris and his younger brother Mikey lost their father due to a long battle with lung cancer. Their mother subsequently passed away on Valentine’s Day of 2010. When she passed, Chris had to grow up much quicker than most kids should have to. He had to legally adopt his brother who was 17 at the time. He had to become a father figure to his brother and become the breadwinner of the family.
Chris founded 5th Boro Sports, which offers organized softball, basketball and football leagues to young adults. Chris has used 5th Boro and the YMCA as not only his outlet but as a platform to raise money for charitable causes. He is constantly thinking of ways to help others.
Mikey is now 19 years of age and is a student at the College of Staten Island. His hobbies include sports and video games. Mikey is a great kid who helps his brother coordinate the 5th Boro sports leagues and also works part time at the YMCA.
During SuperStorm Sandy, the main floor and basement of Chris and Mikey’s New Dorp Beach home was flooded leaving it inhabitable and destroying almost all of their valuables. They kept the couch where their mother had died as it was very difficult for them to throw it out. Not only did Chris and Mikey have to walk away from their home but they had to leave all the memories of their parents behind as well. All of their mother’s possessions, (which were virtually untouched since she passed) had to be thrown away. Both of their cars actually floated down their block and were completely filled with seawater rendering them unusable in addition destroying all of their sports equipment that was in the cars.
It was not easy but Chris and Mikey just last week found an apartment on Staten Island and they are starting to rebuild their lives. Unfortunately they have nothing at all to fill it up with plus have limited funds to do so. Chris has dedicated his life to helping others and now its time to help him out. Please donate what you can to help these young men get back on their feet.
You can also donate supplies to Chris and Mikey directly from their Amazon Wishlist by following this link: http://amzn.com/w/AIPJ6NQFYDYZ