Charity fashion show inspires Merrick-Bellmore community

Sanford H. Calhoun High School’s Senior Experience program held its yearly charitable fashion show on April 18. This year, the students chose Be a Good Cookie Merrick as their charity, which supports the funding of research for a safer, more effective treatment for childhood cancer.

Last September, the Merrick community lost a beloved friend and neighbor, Richard Capizzi, to brain cancer. While Capizzi earned many accolades in his career, he always felt that  his greatest accomplishment in life was his children, who always inspired him to give back. As a pastry chef, baker, and fundraiser, Capizzi was critical in helping Cookies for Kids’ Cancer raise  millions of dollars to help fund pediatric cancer research. After his passing, Capizzi’s family and  friends started Be a Good Cookie Merrick to raise money for his passing in support of childhood  cancer research.

Throughout the show, various prizes were raffled off, along with ad spaces for the Fashion Show program. Many businesses donated and were displayed throughout the show. 100 percent of the proceeds went directly to Be a Good Cookie Merrick.