PATRIZIA’S RESTAURANT OF RED BANK RAISES $60,000 FOR CHILDREN’S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

PHOTOS BY JOHN RIVERO

Patrizia’s of Red Bank hosted its third annual “Miracle Night” for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and raised $60,000 for the local beneficiary, Children’s Specialized Hospital. Lou Maschi, one of the owners of Patrizia’s, has been involved with the Hospital for nine years, through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partnership with IHOP. (Maschi owns the IHOP in Brick, which has held the distinction of being the highest fundraising IHOP in the country for several years.)

“I have seen firsthand what Children’s Specialized Hospital does and how successful they are at creating miracles,” said Maschi. “Supporting it became a passion for me, and I take great pride in doing that.”

Three years ago, his affiliation expanded to the Red Bank community with a dinner and silent auction fundraiser at Patrizia’s. This year, a crowd of 125 people came together, including one special young lady, Kaitlin Clutter.

A longtime patient of Children’s Specialized Hospital, which she credits for her learning to walk despite the diagnosis of Spina bifida, Kaitlin’s parents were told by doctors that she may never walk or talk when she was born. Instead, she has defied the odds with the help of Children’s Specialized Hospital and gave a touching speech in Maschi’s honor.

Maschi credits Kaitlin as being the inspiration for all of his fundraising efforts; he met her at 8 years old and recently lit a candle at her Sweet 16 birthday party.