The BIG BLANCHE Benefit and Fundraiser (Saturday March 1st, 2008)

Joe A bittersweet evening celebrating the life of Joe Matarazzo, aka, Big Blanche. Over the years, Joe had hosted numerous fundraisers for FRIENDS FOR LIFE raising much needed funds.

Sadly, we lost Joe this past November but we will always remember him with love and affection. It is through the kindness and hard work of people like Joe that FFL is kept alive.

Blanche The evening was charged with love and filled with memories of Joe and his alter ego Big Blanche. His presence was felt throughout the evening. All the performers were asked to retell a story about Big Blanche, and they relayed to the audience the kind of person Joe was and the kind of crazy character Blanche was. Perhaps Lucinda said it best when she said that, although she never knew Joe, after listening to everyone she got a sense of who Joe was and why he is so missed.

The night was filled with roaring laughter from the comedy routines, dazed amazement from the female illusionists and silent tears from the accounts of Joe's life. Sprinkled with the musical entertainment of Sylvester singing songs he wrote for FRIENDS FOR LIFE and blown away by the music of recording artists Lucinda and Michael Connelly of LIFEbeat, Music Fights AIDS.

The Rev. Allison Moore presented Joe's parents with a plaque thanking them for sharing Joe with us. Topping the evening was a special "thank you" to all the performers from Joe's mother. Not a dry eye in the house at that point, but everyone left with a smile knowing they just experienced an evening of appreciation for a man who deserved all the attention.

A special thanks goes out to all our guests for their support, for those who have been with us year after year and for those who joined us for the first time. You keep us alive and vital. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Blanche

In loving memory of Big Blanche.

A Big "WOW" From Allison

WOW! The Fabulous Fakes tribute to Big Blanche was an incredible testimony to Blanche, to a community of support for Friends for Life, and to just plain (or decadently extravagant) fun! Thank you's all around: to the Matarazzos for their love and support for their wonderful son, to Gary Cosgrove, Lucinda, and "the girls," to Nelson, Bill, Howie, Ellen, Patty, Maria and Stacey; to all who laughed and delighted in a great show and all who contributed to our important work.

Spirit at the program is also high; great Valentine's Day party, many new clients, good speakers, steady complementary therapies and support groups, delicious food. the hope and energy coming from clients, staff, volunteers, and supporters brings sunshine In the midst of grey winter days. Blessings!

- The Rev. Allison Moore, Executive Director

A Message from Nelson Rivera

First of all I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this evening a success starting with Gary Cosgrove and the Rev. Allison Moore along with Howie, Ellen, Patty, Maria, Stacy and Bill. To all the performers who gave the best show ever, The Fabolous Fakes, The Imperial Court Members, Lucinda, Michael Connelly and Sylvester. To the set designers and lighting person, thank you very much. To all the volunteers who filled the seats selling the tickets for the show.

To the Matarazzo family for all their love and support and sharing their beloved Joe with us for all of these years. And lastly to Joe himself, who gave to FRIENDS FOR LIFE a legacy of love and dedication. You are missed and will always be our friend for life.

A Heartfelt Thanks from Gary

"What an amazing night! My crown is off to my Board members, Nelson and Rev. Allison, for really pulling the logistics of this fundraiser show together. To Bill and the other volunteers: you make it look so easy, I am honored to be apart of such a warm, giving group of friends and volunteers. The saying is true, 'you never realize what you've got till it's gone'. The loss of Joe was so sudden that many of us never got to let him know how much we loved him. But I believe he knows and his family knows. Our hearts go out to them and we will keep them close.

To my girls, who are the Ultimate in female impersonation, my Fabulous Fakes have hearts of gold. Besides being the consummate performers, they are my friends and when you have a near death experience like I had this year, you cherish those friendships dearly. I believe that each one of these 'stars' channeled Blanche from that big stage in the sky and helped make the show a huge success. Blanche is missed but we carry her and Joe in our hearts as if we were one big family. In many ways we are."

In service,

Gary F. Cosgrove
Former President, Board of Trustees

My Two Cents

There is a two-fold reason why I have become involved in FRIENDS FOR LIFE. One being my love for Nelson Rivera and the way he inspires me with his dedication to FFL and the other being the affection I have for a dear friend, Joe Matrazzo.

I have witnessed FFL rising from the ashes this past year and doing bigger and better things for the clients. The determination of a few for the benefit of the many is like watching God's work unfold.

Honoring Joe with this benefit and raising much needed funds for FFL was a wonderful event to be a part of. I had a ball and hopefully we can do it again.

Great job, everybody!
- Bill Murray