Nick Zangara Fund

Our Annual Golf Tournament Featured in Local Newspaper

Dina — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:32:08 +0000

Soldier to be honored with golf tournament

Published: Friday, July 30, 2010

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Richard Zangara wanted to do something to honor his son’s memory and support causes dear to his heart without becoming a professional fundraiser.

“The golf tournament is the only (benefit) we hold,” said the father of late Army Specialist Nicholas J. Zangara. “I don’t like to chase people around for money year round.”

The fifth annual Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Monday, Sept. 13 at Springfield Country Club.

“It’s an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start with registration at 7:30,” said Zangara, a Darby Township resident. “We can take up to 120 players and they can come any way they want – as singles, pairs or foursomes. There’s also a raffle and silent auction with all kinds of sports memorabilia, jerseys and tickets from all of the Philadelphia teams.”

The cost is $125 per player, which includes lunch, and all payments must be made by Sept. 3.

The tournament, which begins with a moment of silence for all servicemen and women lost to war, has raised more than $55,000 for 46 different charities, including Nick’s favorite, St. Jude Research Hospital.

A member of the 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, Zangara, 21, was killed by a roadside bomb on July 24, 2004 in Iraq.

“The money goes to children’s charities because Nick loved kids so much,” said Zangara, who serves as president of the Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund. “It’s what Nick was all about and what we’re about.”

Beneficiaries from past tournaments include, Operation Warm, Western PA School for Blind Children, Joseph Lentz Fund: For Pediatric Brain Cancer Research, Briarcliffe Athletic Association, Saint Edmund’s Home and Shriners Hospital.

Nick Zangara grew up in Philadelphia and attended George Washington High School. He enlisted in the Army in 2000 and served in Germany and Kosovo before being deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and War on Terrorism Medal.

Rich Zangara said Nick was the only one of his kids who enjoyed golf. “The other two are hotheads,” he said with a laugh. “Nick and I played in Jersey, the Northeast and here in Delaware County.”

The tournament drew 84 players last year and the family is hoping this year’s event will sell out.

“It just makes you feel good to see the faces of all the people who are giving up a day of work or a vacation day,” he said. “We had 15 new golfers last year who didn’t know me from Adam. That they take the time out to do this for your kid and lots of other kids means a lot.”

Zangara said participants range from family and friends to business owners and politicians. What’s been missing the last two years is a corporate sponsor.

“That’s been the biggest problem,” he said.

For a $2,500 donation, the tournament sponsor receives a company banner and logo, eight players in the tournament field, and recognition during the luncheon and on brochures and the foundation website, www.nickzangarafund.com.

There are other sponsor opportunities ranging from $125 to $1,500 and non-golfers are welcome to attend the luncheon for $55.

“It means a lot and we know if Nick was alive today, he would be involved with kids,” Zangara said. “Doing this keeps his memory alive for us. This is what keeps me going and keeps the family going.”

***

For more information or to register for the Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Golf Tournament

visit:

www.nickzangarafund.com or

write to:

Richard Zangara

1015 Poplar Ave.

Glenolden, PA 19036.

of e-mail:

richz525@comcast.net

Nicholas John Memorial Fund Continues Supporting Children in Need

Dina — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 01:28:01 +0000

The Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund was established in February 2006 to honor the memory of my son who was killed in Iraq on July 24, 2004. Because of Nick’s love of children the foundation focuses on improving the quality of life for children and their families. It is a non-profit organization that has raised funds over the past four years and donated funds to various children’s charities and organizations. This foundation’s purpose is only a small gesture to describe how Nick cared for children but we are seeing how much this gesture is impacting many lives; just as Nick did.

Thanks to the generosity of the community we were able to raise money to benefit various children’s charities and youth programs. The number of sponsors and donors continue to increase each year, which contributes to our achievement. The Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund greatly appreciates the support of our sponsors and their interest in helping children and families. Due to our success this year we are able to expand our support to more charities and youth programs in the greater Philadelphia area.

The following are some of the great organizations that were supported by the Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund this past year because of our continued success and fund raising efforts.

Saint Jude Research Hospital
Operation Warm
Western PA School for Blind Children
CATCH Inc. Gala and Children’s Festival
The Joseph Lentz Fund: For Pediatric Brain Cancer Research
The Briarcliffe Athletic Association
The Brennan Nephrology Fund of St. Christopher’s Hospital
Saint Edmund’s Home
Shriners Hospital

The hope is to continue raising money in order to support the mission of the Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund.

Sincerely and in memory of Nick,

Richard Zangara

President, Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund Inc.

Annual Golf Tournament Scheduled for September 13th, 2010

Dina — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 19:37:25 +0000

This year annual golf tournament will take place on Monday September 13, 2010 at Springfield Country Club. Registration will take place at 7:30am with a 8:30am Shotgun start. Springfield Country Club is located at 400 Sproul Road Springfield, PA 19064.

Rich Zangara Interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers

Dina — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:22:52 +0000

Rich Zangara Interviewed on Comcast Newsmakers from Rich Zangara on Vimeo.

Welcome

Matt — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:11:55 +0000

Welcome the new Nicholas John Zangara Memorial Fund website.

Nicholas John Zangara was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1982. He grew up in Philadelphia and attended George Washington High school. He enlisted in the Army in 2000 and served in some of the most troubled parts of the world. Nicholas served mostly in Germany and Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia and dedicated his spare time to helping underprivileged children. After a tour in Kosovo, Nick was deployed to Kuwait and then to Iraq in support of IRAQI FREEDOM.

On July 24, 2004, he was killed by an improvised explosive device that was detonated near his convoy vehicle. He was buried with full military honors and was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal and War on Terrorism Medal.

For more information on Nick’s military unit, please click here.

Personal Background

Dina — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:10:43 +0000

Nick had the unique ability to connect with children whether it was with family members or children in the neighborhood. He was always a kid at heart. He continued his special bond with children when he began his career in the Army. Wherever he was serving, whether it was Germany, Kosovo, or Iraq there was always a picture of him with a child or children, which he jokingly said he adopted. It’s the love that Nick had for children that motivates his family to make the foundation a success. I know that if Nick were here today he would have devoted his life in some way to assist children in need.

Annual Golf Tournament Scheduled for September 14th

Dina — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 18:09:12 +0000

The annual golf tournament is schedule for Monday, September 14th and will be held at Paxon Hollow Country Club.