Yorktown Teen Center Raises More Than $7,000

More than 100 people gathered last week to honor Michelle Marchetti, a former teacher from the Yorktown Central School District, who received the Yorktown Teen Center’s 2012 Joan Valenstein Memorial Youth Advocate Award.

Marchetti is a volunteer at the Teen Center who provides supervision to the teens as well as homework help, organized SAT math tutoring and other events. She received the most votes for Teacher Recognition Day.

Master of Ceremonies for the event was Rick Cerrone, former senior executive of the New York Yankees and the teen center’s 2011 Youth Advocate.

Teens were the center of attention that evening. Guests were entertained by the Yorktown High School Swing 4 Jazz Band during the cocktail hour. The band members are Mark McIntyre, Chris Crivelli, John Racciopo and John Venezia. During dinner Zerena Lupo, an eighth grader at Mildred E. Strang Middle School, sang solo followed by Amber Lewis, a student at John Jay High School.

Yorktown Teen Center members William Arnold and Michael Montaruli, both Yorktown High School seniors, captivated the audience as they spoke of their experiences at the Teen Center. They thanked the volunteers for giving them a safe place to go to after school.

Marchetti spoke of her involvement with the Teen Center and her admiration of the volunteers. Yorktown Supervisor Michael Grace and County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz presented proclamations on behalf of the town and county. Oct. 26, 2012 was proclaimed as Michelle Marchetti Day in Westchester County. 

Besides the teens, live music was performed by The Hudson River Jazz Band. The band included Chris Stelluti, John Philpott, Frank Tolksdorf, Lou Stelluti, Mark Devine and Jeff Brown.

The Teen Center raised more than $7,000 from the event. Some of the funds were earmarked for request the teens had, such as a pizza party and ice cream social.

"People seemed to have a good time and walk away happy tonight," Helena Rodriguez of the Yorktown Teen Center said. "I know I am."