POINT PLEASANT, N.J., Nov. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Joe Leone Introna traveled to L'Aquila, Italy on his second humanitarian trip to the earthquake-ravaged area. While in L'Aquila, Joe, his wife and children, and volunteers who made the trip with him prepared and served a traditional American Thanksgiving feast for the children orphaned by the disaster. The preparation and sharing of such an important American celebration was meaningful for the Introna family as well as the children of L'Aquila. The feast, as well as the delivery of daily necessities purchased through Joe's grassroots fundraising efforts, was the purpose of Introna's journey.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090923/NY80774 )

Joe's fundraising idea is simple, yet effective. He hangs a large American flag banner in his gourmet Italian specialty markets, located in Point Pleasant and Sea Girt, New Jersey, and invites patrons to make a donation of at least one dollar for the opportunity to sign the banner.

In order to secure additional funds, Joe took his concept across the United States. For 18 weeks he traveled to cities with large American Italian populations. In solidarity with the plight of the individuals affected by the tragedy, Joe slept outdoors in a tent in each city, as well as outside his Italian specialty market in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

The 2009 L'Aquila earthquake occurred in the region of Abruzzo, in central Italy. The main shock rated 5.8 on the Richter scale and 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale. Its epicenter was near L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, which, with the surrounding villages, suffered the most damage, There were several thousand foreshocks and aftershocks from December 2008 to July 2009.

The Joe Leone L'Aquila Earthquake Relief Fund is a not for profit organization covered under the 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization status of the Brick Unico Foundation, Inc. - Joe Leone L'Aquila Earthquake Relief Fund. If you wish to make an online donation, please do so by logging on to www.joeleonesearthquakerelieffund.org. Should you wish to send a check, please make it payable to Brick Unico Foundation, Inc. - Joe Leone L'Aquila Earthquake Relief Fund, and mail it to Joe Leone's Italian Specialty Store, 501 American Legion Way Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742.

SOURCE Joe Leone L'Aquila Earthquake Relief Fund

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