Who we are

Rotary Club of Verrazano, Chartered on April 7, 1978 it is one of over 30,000 Rotary clubs in 160 countries worldwide. Rotary’s 1.2 million Rotarians, are business and professional leaders that unite to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

Rotary Club of Verrazano is comprised of 35 professionals engaging in all areas of business. We are all united in the cause of helping the less fortunate, regardless of race, religious or political beliefs. Attorneys, physicians, accountants, bankers, builders and others all coming together to do good.

What we do

Feeding the hungry, procuring open heart surgeries for children overseas, supporting local projects is just the beginning. Rotary Club of Verrazano has n a yearly basis, donated hundreds of turkeys to needy families for Thanksgiving. In 2012 when Superstorm Sandy decimated the Coney Island and Staten Island shoreline, Rotary Club of Verrazano jumped into action. From working with a local Brooklyn caterer to cook over 1000 meals to help feed those in need in Coney Island, to donating food and other necessities to families affected on Staten Island, Verrazano was there. In addition, Rotary Club of Verrazano donated much needed funding to over 20 families that lost personal belongings and/or housing after Sandy.

Below is a partial list of the many organizations we support throughout the year. In addition, we support individual causes on a per need basis

Gift of Life, Inc. is a crusade of the heart, touching children in peril. An idea born in 1975 to a group of Rotarians from Manhasset, Long Island, NY, is today a global effort. We reach out to many children, who would otherwise die, and heal their failing hearts with the miracle of cardiac surgery. More than 10,000 children have since been flown here from dozens of nations for sophisticated open-heart surgery…from Europe, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and within our nation. Medical centers throughout the U.S., and in Israel and Malaysia, are participating Gift of Life hospitals.

The mission of Gift of Life Italy of New York Inc. is to further the cause of world peace and understanding by facilitating free medical services to children suffering from congenital heart defects and other similar or allied illnesses, regardless of their race, creed, gender, religion or national origin, and who would otherwise lack access to such services.

The seeds in creating “Frankie’s Mission” were planted by a boy named Francesco Loccisano, aka Frankie, who was diagnosed with cancer when he was only 14 years old. Frankie had lived a happy, full and active life until he was found sick. As he fought cancer, he realized there were people in this world, especially his young fellow cancer warriors, who were facing very difficult journeys through no fault of their own. He was very motivated to launch his own foundation when he reached a cure. However, he did not just tell his family and friends of his intentions. He INSPIRED them with his vision for the future, and he filled them with an energetic passion toward helping others.

Frankie never reached that cure. He passed two weeks after his 17th birthday, and all those who loved him knew they must continue his legacy and carry out his wishes. One month later, Frankie’s family, friends, neighbors, coaches and teachers crowded around a long kitchen table. On that evening, a team of dedicated people of all ages, and with high hopes, big dreams, and a strong work ethic, launched a grass-roots effort. “Frankie’s Mission” was born.