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A bittersweet evening celebrating the life of Joe Matarazzo, aka, Big Blanche. Over the years, Joe had hosted
numerous fundraisers for FRIENDS FOR LIFE raising much needed funds.
Sadly we lost Joe this past November but we will always remember him with love and affection. It is through the
kindness and hard work of people like Joe that keeps FFL alive.
The evening was charged with love and filled with memories of Joe and his alter ego Big Blanche. His presence was
felt throughout the evening. All the performers were asked to retell a story about Big Blanche and they relayed to the
audience the kind of person Joe was and the kind of crazy character Blanche was. Perhaps Lucinda said it best when she
said that although she never knew Joe, after listening to everyone she got a sense of who Joe was and why he is so missed.
The night was filled with roaring laughter from the comedy routines, dazed amazement from the female illusionists and
silent tears from the accounts of Joe's life. Sprinkled with the musical entertainment of Sylvester singing songs he wrote
for FRIENDS FOR LIFE and blown away by the music of recording artists Lucinda and Michael Connelly of LIFEbeat, Music Fights
AIDS.
The Rev. Allison Moore presented Joe's parents with a plaque thanking them for sharing Joe with us. Topping the evening
was a special "thank you'' to all the performers from Joe's mother. Not a dry eye in the house at that point but everyone
left with a smile knowing they just experienced an evening of appreciation for a man who deserved all the attention.
A special thanks goes out to all our guests for their support, those who have been with us year after year and
for those who joined us for the first time. You keep us alive and vital. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
A BIG "WOW" FROM ALLISON
WOW! The Fabulous Fakes tribute to Big Blanche was an incredible testimony to Blanche, to a community of support
for Friends for Life, and to just plain (or decadently extravagant) fun! Thank you's all around: to the Matarazzos for
their love and support for their wonderful son, to Gary Cosgrove, Lucinda, and "the girls," to Nelson, Bill, Howie, Ellen,
Patty, Maria and Stacey; to all who laughed and delighted in a great show and all who contributed to our important work.
Spirit at the program is also high; great Valentine's Day party, many new clients, good speakers, steady complementary
therapies and support groups, delicious food. the hope and energy coming from clients, staff, volunteers, and supporters
brings sunshine In the midst of grey winter days. Blessings!
The Rev. Allison Moore, Executive Director
A MESSAGE FROM NELSON RIVERA
First of all I would like to thank everyone who
worked so hard to make this evening a success starting with Gary Cosgrove and the Rev. Allison Moore along with Howie, Ellen,
Patty, Maria, Stacy and Bill. To all the performers who gave the best show ever, The Fabolous Fakes, The Imperial Court
Members, Lucinda, Michael Connelly and Sylvester. To the set designers and lighting person, thank you very much.To all
the volunteers who filled the seats selling the tickets for the show.
To the Matarazzo family for all their love and support and sharing their beloved Joe with us
for all of these years. And lastly to Joe himself, who gave to FRIENDS FOR LIFE a legacy of love and dedication. You
are missed and will always be our friend for life.
A HEARTFELT THANKS FROM GARY
"What an amazing night! My crown is off to my Board members, Nelson and Rev. Allison for really pulling the
logistics of this fundraiser show together. To Bill and the other volunteers: you make it look so easy, I am honored to be
apart of such a warm, giving group of friends and volunteers. The saying is true, "you never realize what you've got till
it's gone". The loss of Joe was so sudden that many of never got to let him kn ow how much we loved him. But I believe he
knows and his family knows. Our hearts go out to them and we will keep them close.
To my girls, who are the Ultimate in
female impersonation, my Fabulous Fakes have hearts of gold. Besides being the consummate performers, they are my
friends and when you have a near death experience like I had this year, you cherish those friendships dearly. I believe that
each one of these "stars" channeled Blanche from that big stage in the sky and helped make the show a huge success.
Blanche is missed but we carry her & Joe in our hearts as if we were one big family and in many ways we are!"
In service,
Gary F. Cosgrove
President, Board of Trustees
Friend for Life, Inc.
a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
THE GUEST OF HONOR
| IN LOVING MEMORY of BIG BLANCHE |
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| JOE...the man beind "the Woman" |
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THE SHOWGIRLS
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