Seventeen year-old Ericka Rinelli is fighting for her life. The junior from John Carroll High School in Fort Pierce used to worry about cheerleading practice and gymnastics and upcoming tests. That all changed Sunday April 6th, when the teen was a passenger in a vehicle involved in a serious accident. Now in a medically induced coma, Rinelli is fortunate to be alive and has a long road ahead to recovery. On Sunday, April 27th, the newly created VanDuzer Foundation will be hosting a benefit to help defray mounting medical costs for the teen’s care, and to help provide for the family, which has exhausted all insurance benefits. All proceeds from sales at the Fort Pierce Big Apple Pizza and Pasta at 2311 S. 35th Street, across from IRCC’s Fort Pierce Campus, will be given to the family to help with the astronomical costs. That means you can come out with your family, enjoy a wonderful meal, delicious desserts and the best garlic knots in town, and every penny you spend will help this local family in need.

“We are so overwhelmed and blown away by the kindness and support our family has received from the community, said Ericka’s father, Don Rinelli. “If tears could describe our family’s gratitude, I can guarantee you there would be no water shortage in Florida for a long time to come.” Mr. Rinelli says that, while Ericka is unaware of her surroundings and her condition, the teen is still fighting hard for her life and he is confident that she will recover. The doctors at St. Mary’s Medical Center, where Ericka is being treated, have removed a portion of the teen’s skull and induced a medical coma to help relieve pressure on the teen’s brain, which received multiple injuries in the crash. She is currently breathing with the assistance of a ventilator. Once Ericka makes it through the coma and the early stages of recovery, she still faces multiple corrective surgeries and reconstruction work.

Jefferson Award Winner and president of The Van Duzer Foundation, Scott Van Duzer, is hosting the event at his restaurant on the 27th. No stranger to community service and philanthropy, VanDuzer, whose sons include one John Carroll student one alumnus, was interested in doing something to help the family as soon as he heard about the Rinelli family’s crisis. It was only after agreeing to host the benefit and raise funds for the family that he realized Don Rinelli is an old and dear friend. “The VanDuzer Foundation was created to help local families and individuals facing crises. To know that this event will help this particular family is exactly what it’s all about.” For additional information about the event or how you can help the Rinelli family, please contact The VanDuzer Foundation at (772) 528-3467, or online at www.thevanduzerfoundation.org