Local Italian-American charity collecting aid for earthquake victims
A suburban charity is collecting money to help Italians who are victims of an earthquake that struck early Wednesday.
Ron Onesti, a past president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, said it has established a fund, along with the Italian consular office in Chicago.
All money donated will be forwarded to the Italian Red Cross, Onesti said.
Onesti is the owner of Onesti Entertainment, well-known for the shows it produces at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.
He said he was supposed to be a host for a WTTW television station pledge drive Thursday night. His segment was going to feature Italy, including a travel show. Organizers decided to hold off on showing those shows, feeling it would be in poor taste to focus on something like sightseeing "the splendors of Italy" while collecting money, Onesti said.
Onesti is working on putting together a benefit show at the Arcada within the next week or two to raise money for earthquake relief. Potential performers include The Other Three Tenors, a trio of Chicago-based performers. Details will be posted at arcadalive.com.
Onesti said he heard about the earthquake almost as soon as it happened because he has relatives who live in the area who called. They were not injured.
Donations
Money can be sent to the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans at 3800 W. Division St., Stone Park, Ill., 60165.
You can also donate using PayPal at jccia.com.
The committee was founded in 1952, and is a congress for more than five dozen Italian-American organizations in the Chicago area.