Walking into her father's mid-20th century era delicatessen, little 13-year-old Marie Assali was taken aback by the distinct smell of the man who had just entered, disbursing odors and signaling to little Marie that he probably hadn't showered for days. To her shock, her father didn't ask the man to leave, a man little Marie thought was "dirty and smelly." Her father, a 1923 Italian immigrant who came to this country with no education and speaking very little English, had pockets filled with nothing more than the desire and determination to make it in a strange new land. Eventually, he would find success through hard work and determination and become the quintessential example of the "American dream," rising to own his own store: Casazza's Delicatessen, serving-up ready-to-eat fine food and wine.
Yet here stood this man, completely alien from what little Marie saw in her father and, to her complete surprise, her father took out a loaf of bread and began building the homeless man a sandwich filled with all the extras. What's more, his generosity afforded the man a gallon of fine Gallo red Burgundy wine before he eventually departed on his journey.
"Why?" little Marie asked her father about aiding the homeless and added, "He's just a bum."
"Maybe so, but you don't know the story about him," her father said.
Her father, who came over when he was 14 years old, would regularly go to bed hungry as a child and grew to appreciate everything he had been blessed with in life. He had a saying for little Marie: "If I can't help someone who is down and hungry, then I'm not much of a man."
"It's remarkable," Assali says of her father's generosity for others.
Today, little Marie Assali is all grown-up and is the chairperson for the Legacy of Hope fundraiser, which raises funds for the United Samaritans Foundation (USF)-a charity that is determined to make sure nobody goes hungry in Stanislaus County.
USF was founded in 1994 as a nonprofit corporation to serve the needs of low income residents and the homeless in Stanislaus County by providing them with various services including a clothes closet, shower facilities, and nutritional meals delivered on mobile food service trucks."
"I saw this "taco truck" and remember kids running (to it) and shoving food into their mouths; only kids, no adults," Assali said of the first time she saw a USF mobile food truck delivering meals to those in need.
Currently, with the help of countless volunteers, USF delivers 35,000 meals per month to nine Stanislaus communities, five days per week, through their facilities in Turlock, Hughson, and Modesto. Additionally, the various locations offer unique services ranging from drop-in breakfast, shower, and job assistance to accessing library material as well as medical needs in their Hughson location.
However, USF depends on charitable donations, and no event offers a bigger donation than the Legacy of Hope fundraiser, which brings out droves of high profile attendees to support USF and their mission to help those less fortunate.
The Legacy of Hope fundraiser took place on November 21st, 2009 through the help of an army of volunteers including many from California State University, Stanislaus.
"We have one hundred plus kids helping in all areas from 7am to 11pm at night," Julie Fox, director of the Office of Service Learning at CSU Stan, said of students. Fox has been critical in connecting volunteers with the event by acting as a liaison between the university and the fundraiser.
Susena Araisa, a former CSU Stanislaus student, was at the event alongside two of her sisters who attend the university. "I just wanted to give back to the community and help out to those in need," Araisa noted.
The 5th annual Legacy of Hope fundraiser was held inside an airplane hanger at Sky Trek Aviation in Modesto on a chilly November night. The spacious steel hanger was beautifully filled with an array of tables covered in fine-dining style white linen, bright lime green napkins, wine glasses, china and orchids center pieces that guests could purchase before leaving the event. The fundraiser took place between in the evening and lasted late into the night, providing guests an opportunity to give back to their communities.
USF thanked each guest by giving them an angel charm in front of each table setting and reminded them in the event's pamphlet that "You are our angel." Also, there were makeshift soft white trees interlaced with clear mini Christmas lights and warmhearted music that created an environment both welcoming and festive. The majestic feel of the event leaves one to think that it would only be brought out for an event as spectacular as this.
"It just takes your breath away, that people are trying to help each other," Birgit Fladager, Stanislaus County District Attorney and attendee of the event, observed. Fladager noted the current state of the economy and its harsh affects on communities in Stanislaus County and added, "It shows as a community, we can pull together and get through this."
The event began at 5:30pm with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails being mixed by bartenders like Ramon Bawana, Hughson city mayor and member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3604 in Hughson. He and his fellow members were in charge of bar.
"There are a lot of people out of work now and they need help," Bawana said.
As the evening drifted into night, guests continued to filter in and look over items featured in the silent auction, which highlighted jewelry, wine, Christmas items, toys, topiaries, Arthur Court and more.
Dinner, compliments of Toscana's Catering, included green salad tossed with balsamic vinaigrette, chicken basilica, penne regatta and a choice of desserts.
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