The Fairport school community is giving back to local veterans this week as part of another successful fundraising effort from the District’s annual Make a Difference (MAD) campaign.

Fairport, in conjunction with Crazy Dog T-Shirts, presented a check totaling $14,160 to Veterans Outreach Center (VOC) of Rochester on November 8.

Fairport representatives, including Minerva DeLand Principal Dominic Monacelli, Minerva DeLand Math Teacher and Veteran JJ Wagner and Superintendent Brett Provenzano, alongside Crazy Dogs T-Shirts CEO Bill Kingston, presented the donations at Crazy Dog T-Shirts in Rochester to Laura Stradley, the executive director for Veterans Outreach Center.

Wagner, who joined the Army as an Airborne Combat Engineer in 2004, was stationed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vicenza, Italy and spent time deployed in the Arghandab River Valley in Southern Afghanistan. 

Upon returning from Active Duty in 2007, he completed his mathematics degree and also re-enlisted in the Army reserves for three additional years. 

“During my transition back to civilian life, I utilized organizations such as VOC and Veterans Affairs,” said Wagner. “The transition from combat to everyday life can have it’s challenges and adjustments. The ability to have people to talk to who had a unique understanding of what I had experienced was incredible. I consistently urge friends and family coming back from the military to take advantage of these services even if they feel they don’t need them.”

Through its partnership with Crazy Dog T-Shirts and the support of the Fairport community, Fairport has raised more than $52,000 for local charities since the campaign’s inception in 2018. Funds were raised through the purchase of Make a Difference t-shirts and donations, all of which were donated by Crazy Dog T-Shirts. 

“Thank you, Fairport community, for your huge hearts and generosity,” said Monacelli. “We are so proud to make a difference with you.”

The Make a Difference campaign is intended to build the students’ and community’s resilience, hope and altruism by raising funds to donate to the local community. The money raised is donated to different local charities and varies each school year. 

This donation to VOC, according to Stradley, will be used specifically to support expansion of the Center’s homeless shelter (Richards House) with new furniture, bedding, and essential items. 

“At Veterans Outreach Center, we care for ALL veterans, regardless of how long they served, where they served, or the nature of their discharge,” said Stradley. “We can adapt our programs to meet emergent and imminent needs, and we can develop unique ways of supporting all different veteran demographics. This incredible donation will allow us to purchase many of the essential items that we’ll need once that renovation is complete. We are so appreciative to the Fairport CSD for helping us make this dream a reality!”

For more information about VOC, visit veteransoutreachcenter.org/. 

Photo, left to right: 

Minerva DeLand Principal Dominic Monacelli, Fairport CSD Superintendent Brett Provenzano, VOC Executive Director Laura Stradley, Crazy Dog T-Shirts CEO Bill Kingston, and Minerva DeLand Teacher & Veteran JJ Wagner.