Annual Benefit Dinner for Nicholas C. Nellos Memorial Fund

The annual benefit dinner for the Nicholas C. Nellos Memorial Fund for At-Risk Children is scheduled for Sunday, August 15, 2010, 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the Quarters on Wyoming. 

Contributions to the fund can be made at the dinner or directly to the Community Foundation, P.O. Box 36960, ABQ., NM 87176 or online at http://www.albuquerquefoundation.org/donate/.

Friends and family of Nicholas Constantine Nellos established this memorial fund when Nick's young life was tragically ended in July, 2002 due to the random acts of violence of two itinerant gang members.  The mission of this endowment fund is to foster positive change in the lives of children and adolescents at risk for violent behavior.  Grants support educational and direct services for at-risk youth, their families, and the community to prevent the tragedy and loss of life caused by violent acts.  The Nellos family hopes "that no child at risk for committing violent acts fails to understand the alternatives to this behavior and the impact of the loss of life."  All memorial contributions received by the Community Foundation in memory of Nicholas Nellos are added to the fund and Nick's family and friends choose organizations to award grants to. 

In 2009, $24,000 was added to the Nicholas C. Nellos Memorial Fund for At-Risk Children.  This included 127 contributions and the proceeds from the annual Benefit Dinner in memory of Nick at Quarters restaurant in August 2009.

2009 Donors:

Mr. and Mrs. Eric P. Alwin
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arellano
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Arrigoni
Annette I. Arrigoni
Regina Arrigoni
Dr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Arvas
James Asperger and Joy Zeiner
James F. Barbour and Margaret I. Davidson
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Berger
Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Berger
Frances I. Blair
Lee S. Blaugrund
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas L. Blech
Mr. John D. Bond
Mr. and Mrs. Turner W. Branch
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas M. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Brummell
Shelley Burt
CAC, Inc.
Patricia B. Cohen and Bill Kimbrough
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Colvin
Kelli and Kevin Cooper
Mr. and Mrs. John Coyle Sr.
Leroy D. Crandell
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Crowley Jr.
Robert H. Davis
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Decktor
Del Sol Builders, Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Del Vecchio
Mr. and Mrs. Herb Denish
Mr. and Mrs. Michael E. Dexter
Michel B. Disco
Scott L. Dotson
Sue E. Dotson
Lauri Ebel
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Eichenberg
Barbara M. Elliott
Expert Carpet of New Mexico
Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Farrier
David Fite and  Sandra Poortvliet Beeching
Gerald Fitz-Gerald Jr.
Eva Fomalont
Mrs. Glynnie Franchini
Rev. Dr. Nicholas V. Gamvas
Mr. and Mrs. Dean Gianopoulos
Evyenia and Katerina Gianopoulos
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gilman
Robert and Barbara Gorham
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Grieves
Mr. and Mrs. Howard W. Henry
Stephen S. Hotchkiss
Enid Howarth
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Johns
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Johnson
Mrs. Georgia P. Kartas
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Keeler
Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Keleher
Margaret I. Keller
Kenbah Tisi Kinsey
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kirikos
Demetra T. Klenck
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Kubie
Robert D. Lamphier
Mr. and Mrs. Al Lucero
Mr. and Mrs. Ferdinand Luft
Mr. and Mrs. Peter F. MacFarlane
Mr. and Mrs. Steve C. Mager
Mr. and Mrs. Ed T. Mahr
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Mallory
Matina Mallory and Shirley Arellano
Tamara Maloof
Mr. and Mrs. David Mathews
Alice McDowell
Mr. and Mrs. John T. McMahon
Mary Lou Melvin
Mr. and Mrs. Steven M. Mitchell
Mr. and Mrs. William J. Mitchell
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry B. Monahan
Laurel Moore and James P. Clinch
Dr. and Mrs. John O. Mosman
Roberta L. Nayfack
Joanna C. Nellos
Juanita Nellos
Mr. and Mrs. James F. Ney
Dr. and Mrs. Scott Obenshain
OK Liquors, Inc.
Old Town Optimist Club #19137
Mr. and Mrs. Jacinto Palomino
Mr. and Mrs. Pavlos Panagopoulos
Jennie Pavlantos
Mr. and Mrs. Carter Peterson
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Phelan
Gary Pierson
Connie A. Pouls
Mr. Michael M. Powers and  Marissa J. Paulden
Margaret A. Putnam
R & B Commercial Service
Mr. and Mrs. Will Raskob
Patricia C. Renken
Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Richards
Leslee T. Richards
Mr. and Mrs. Duane W. Roberts
Iola B. Robinson
Mrs. Beverly Rogoff
María Griego-Raby and R. Randall Royster
S T Trust
Dr. and Mrs. Donald F. Seelinger
Catherine B. Smith
Southern Wine & Spirits
Dr. and Mrs. Stanley N. Stark
Barbara G. Stephenson
Sysco Food Services of New Mexico, LLC
Charles L. Thomsen
Triangle Paving Co., Inc.
Mr. and Mrs. George Trujeque
Lynn Vaio
Mary Vaio
Walker Consulting Engineers
Mike Walterscheid
Mr. and Mrs. Teddy D. Warner
Margaret White and Mark H. Pedrotty
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Wolf
Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Zaffery
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Zenos
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory T. Zeter
Helen Zournas

2009 Grants:

Wings Ministry

Mission: to building relationships with families, probationers, and former inmates through discussion, mentoring, empowerment and support.

$10,000 to support the secular program, Wings for LIFE for children with incarcerated family members through group mentoring and social networks to reduce recidivism rates and strenghten families

La Plazita Institute

Mission: to help identify individuals, groups and grassroots organizations interested in an authentic place/space for "indigenous alternative" ways to assist and help people in their communities

$10,000 to support a Parents Empowerment Project providing gang intervention and prevention seminars and trainings, free of charge, to concerned paren

Grants are also made to Albuquerque Public School for students awards for the Mediation in the Schools Program.   
This year’s recipients are:  Haylea Mitchell, McCollum ES; Riley Simpson, Collet Park ES; and Ralston Stanich, Comanche ES

Previous grants have been made to:

• Advocacy, Inc
• APS Title I Homeless Projects
• APS Health & Mental Health Services
• Animal Humane Association of NM Project Second Chance
• Cuidando Los Niños
• Fast Break, Inc.
• La Familia Placement Services
• La Plazita Institute
• Keshet Dance Company at Youth Diagnostic and Development Center
• New Mexico Conference of Churches
• New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition Young Fathers Project
• PB & J Family Services and Youth Building Better Lives

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