Whitestone student gets Life of Signifi cance Award
College sophomore awarded for dedication to community service and beyond
BY CARLOTTA MOHAMED
A devoted volunteer in
his spare time serving those
in need, 19-year-old Kraig
Puccia was honored to receive
the 2019 Life of Significance
Award on May 31 for his
outstanding contributions to
the community and beyond.
Puccia, who lives in
Whitestone and is a sophomore
at Fordham University in the
Bronx studying history and
Italian studies, was announced
as the fifth annual Life of
Significance Award winner
by The Penn Mutual Life
Insurance Company. As one of
three finalists selected from a
nationwide field of nominees,
Puccia’s recognition was
unveiled during the Penn
Mutual Collegiate Rugby
Championship (CRC).
The Life of Significance
Award is given annually to a
collegiate rugby player, male
or female, participating in the
CRC, which took place at Talen
Energy Stadium in Chester,
PA, from May 31 through
June 2.
“When I found out there
were 20 nominees and I started
to learn about the award I just
became very humbled by the
whole experience because a
lot of the things I’ve done in
the past and now I don’t really
do out of self-interest,” said
Puccia. “I try to do it because
I enjoy doing work for others
and I don’t seek any award.
When I was told that I was a
finalist and won, I was very
grateful and appreciative of
the opportunities I’ve had
for outreach.”
Puccia’s love for volunteer
service began in high school,
he said, where he was taught
values such as selflessness,
self-service and commitment.
“It kind of ties in with my
educational background. I
went to a Jesuit high school
and a Jesuit university,” said
Puccia. “I was put into an
environment where there are a
lot of opportunities and places
where you could find service
whether it’s locally or around
the nation. In high school,
Eileen McDonnell, chairman and CEO of Penn Mutual, Kraig Puccia,
2019 Life of Significance Award recipient, Joseph Jordan, author
of “Living a Life of Significance.” Courtesy of The Penn Mutual
I did a lot of similar service
projects and research in social
justice and now as a university
student, I take proactive steps
to get involved in legal offices
and studying problems in
parts of the nation.”
Puccia has traveled to
Bethel, Alaska, as a member
of Fordham’s GO! (Global
Life Insurance Company
Outreach) program, where he
was a volunteer at the Tundra
Women’s Coalition. The
organization works to protect
women in the community from
their partners during alcohol
or drug-induced episodes that
threaten their safety.
In 2018, he also volunteered
at the Domestic Violence
Bureau at the Queens District
Attorney’s Office in Kew
Gardens, where he worked
with an assistant district
attorney helping with an
early voluntary discovery
collecting documents in
preparation for a domestic
violence case.
“I was involved with
interviewing police officers,
victims of domestic violence,
getting corroborated
statements signed, and
compiling evidence and
organizing them in a case
file,” said Puccia.
This summer, Puccia is
volunteering at the Veterans
Advocacy Project through
the Urban Justice Center
performing pro-bono work
for neglected veterans
throughout New York City.
Read more at QNS.com
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by email at
cmohamed@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Portabella takes styling for any event personally
This is an age when many
stores look the same and
merchandise is afraid to be
unique. Companies continue
to cut back on personal service
and try to reduce costs.
And stores are closing around
the country.
Not so at Portabella. Portabella
has stuck to its roots.
Runway fashions, the current
trends, and at least 60
percent off designer prices
everyday. Plus, individual
service for every customer
who enters the stores. Customers
are number 1. Each is
treated with special attention
by the trained customer service
team.
A recent Portabella customer
was overheard saying
to a cashier, “I always get my
suits at Portabella. You have
what I want at a great price,
great personal service and
the alterations are ready in
15 minutes” Portabella has
customizing tailor shops in
almost every location and in
most cases offers 24-hour alteration
service.
BUS I N E S S , B ROOK LYN S T Y LE – A DV E RTI S E M E NT
The Portabella business
is also changing. New deliveries
now come weekly, and
there is a new focus on special
event group sales. The great
values and new fashion have
made Portabella a headquarters
for weddings, proms,
sweet 16s, quincinearas, and
other special events. It prides
itself on making it more affordable
to buy pieces than
to rent, as well as providing
a better selection of the current
trend.
The multi-cultural buying
team at Portabella uses trends
from all over the world. They
combine their expertise and
different points of view to develop
a selection that gives attention
to each store location
and market.
Portabella now operates
more than 40 stores in New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
under the Portabella,
Fino and Quails names. And
shop online at Portabellaonline.
com.
32 TIMESLEDGER, JUNE 14-20, 2019 QNS.COM
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