The Frank Trivigno Memorial Scholarship Fund will hold a benefit dinner to raise money for young hockey players in memory of Frank Trivigno on March 19, from 7 to 11 p.m. at Verdi’s of Westbury. The Mineola High School student passed away in the summer of 2013 in a tragic ATV accident in upstate New York. He was 17 years old.
“He was a great kid,” Alyssa Trivigno, Frank’s older sister, said. “Everything he did he was passionate about.” Besides hockey, Frank’s passions included riding dirt bikes, snowboarding, learning to become an electrician, visiting family and spending time with friends and his girlfriend, Allison Cutrona.
“[Frank] would be thrilled [with the memorial fund],” Alyssa said. “He was a very big person with giving back. If there was a way he could help somebody, he wanted to help somebody.”
To honor his memory, the Trivigno family created the fund, which awards yearly scholarships to deserving travel hockey players within the Long Island Amateur Hockey League and throughout New York. The Trivigno family learned firsthand how expensive playing travel hockey is because their was so passionate about it. They witnessed his friends and teammates dropping out when they could no longer afford to continue. The funds collected help to offset the often substantial costs.
“He would be so honored and happy and excited about it,” Cutrona said. “Just thrilled…It’s definitely going to be a good night.”
Alyssa is the secretary and treasurer of the scholarship fund and on the board of trustees. She went door-to-door to stores in Mineola, Williston Park, Port Washington and Garden City asking for donations for the March 19 event.
Local business-owners were incredibly generous. She collected enough contributions to fill 80 baskets for the raffles and silent auction. The contents include gift certificates for restaurants, the movie theatres, bowling alleys, bars, botox facilities and hotels, as well as products from Bath & Body Works and signed sports items from regional teams.
The Trivigno family began the fund after friends and neighbors started sending them checks in their time of need.
“Last year we chose to set up a small scholarship fund and gave out three $1,000 scholarships, but this year we hope to give more,” said Alyssa. The benefit dinner will raise a significant amount of money, enabling a larger scholarship this year.
The benefit dinner will include dancing, casino tables, an open bar, raffles and silent auctions for guests to participate in. Tickets are $75 per person and must be purchased in advance. All proceeds go directly to the schlorship fund.
To purchase tickets, call Lisa at 516-743-8115 or email info@franktrivigno.org. For more information, visit franktrivigno.org.
