The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

CALLICOON, NY – The 2nd Annual Home of the Free Because of the Brave Radiothon was held on Saturday and Sunday, August 28 and 29 at the Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY.

The brainchild of Ray McCarthy, President and Founder of the Committee for the Families of Iraqi and Afghanistan War Veterans, the Radiothon is designed to raise money to assist  war veterans and their families with bills, jobs, transition to civilian life, medical help and whatever assistance is needed. Geographically, the organization focuses on the Mid-Hudson Valley’s neediest veterans and their families.

The organization was started after McCarthy read the story of Lt. Louis Allen, who had been killed in Iraq, leaving behind a wife and four young boys. McCarthy made phone calls to people who would be willing to help him start a non-profit organization

And last year, McCarthy teamed up with radio station Thunder 102, ShopRite and others to organize a one-day Radiothon, which was held at the Sullivan County Airport.

As is often the case when these things take off, this year’s Radiothon grew up. It was held in a bigger place – the Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center in Callicoon, NY, and it was held for two days.

Once again teaming up with Thunder 102, ShopRite and many other area businesses including the Villa Roma, McCarthy and Radiothon Chair Neil Gilberg had phone banks, entertainment and even a couple of cakes to celebrate the event. 

Gilberg (photo left) arranged for phone lines, volunteers to staff the phone for two nine-hour days, and clerical people to tally donations, while radio personalities, Paul Ciliberto, Mike Sakell, Michelle Semerano and Sarah Prutzman interviewed veterans and people affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Celebrities, politicians and community members were on hand, all volunteering their time, including Kevin Dowdell of the Villa Roma, who was instrumental in arranging for the event’s new venue.

“This is important to each and every one of us,” said Gilberg. “We’ve been at war for 10 years, and we have so many men and women affected by the wars, and it’s our responsibility to be there for them, in any way we can when they come back and sadly for the families of those who don’t come back. … serious amounts of monies have been given to families of those who have been injured or killed.”

Volunteers Stu and Ilene Wizwer of Hurleyville  (photo right) were there not only to answer the phones, but also to talk about ProjectNewHope.Net, a effort to provide free recreational retreats for military members and their families, helping the veterans to re-acclimate themselves into civilian life. Stu is connected through his work with the Lions Club, for which he serves as District Governor. The Lions provide their Camp Badger in Spencer, NY for the retreat. Contact Project New Hope at info@projectnewhope.net or at 218-851-5839.

New York Regional Manager of Thunder 102, Paul Ciliberto sees involvement in the community as the bottom line for his radio station. “We create the awareness, our listeners make things happen,” said Ciliberto. “Our listeners are incredibly supportive. And you find that those who have the least are the ones who give the most.” Ciliberto considers himself blessed. “We have an owner who allows us to do what it takes to get the job done. And I have the most amazing staff …”

In the middle of one of the busiest weekends of the summer for the radio station, Cilberto was pragmatic. “The veterans and the families of the veterans, they’ve gone through more than we could ever go through on these busy weekends. It’s never enough to say thank you …”

Ciliberto said that a big part of the event this year was the sale of Eagle Cards, which were sold at many area businesses, both in New York and PA. He also had a big thank you for the honorary chair people: Steve Ruwoldt of Catskill Regional Medical Center, Dr. Michelle Koury of Crystal Run Healthcare, Howard Braunstein of the M & M Auto Group, and Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini. “The efforts they’ve put out put out have been incredible,” said Ciliberto.

Founder of the Committee, Ray McCarthy (photo extreme right) said the whole purpose of the Radiothon is “to raise as much money as we possibly can, to help as many family as we possibly can.” McCarthy had some grim statistics at his fingertips. “The unemployment rates for veterans is 35%, 20% of veterans come home with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, 21 veterans from the Hudson Valley have been killed in action, and the area has seen six suicides from the military community.”

There are 52 people on the Committee, and McCarthy praises them all as “incredibly talented people.”

A new person on the board is Darren Wiseman, who was Co-chair of Radiothon. He handled some  of the logistics, and he organized the entertainment, which included Alyssa Startup, T.J. Sacco, Chris Barron and the Time Bandits, Elvis and the Roustabouts, and many others. “I play music myself, and we just reached out, we got people coming from the city, and some great local bands,” said Wiseman, who started rounding up the entertainment about 6 months ago. “The challenging thing was that so many bands wanted to come and play (for free). They know it’s for a good cause.”

For more information about the Committee for the Families of Iraq and Afghanistan War Vets, click on this link: http://www.familiesofwarvets.org/. 794-0060.

To see more photos or to purchase prints from the 2nd Annual Home of the Free Because of the Brave Radiothon, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.