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| Jimmy Lucibello and Donato Tramuto |
The dining room was buzzing with activity at Five-O on Sunday, Feb. 19, as local residents and visitors turned out to enjoy brunch and support the Frannie Peabody Center.
Jeffrey Porter, Five-O’s owner and president and board member for the Frannie Peabody Center, said there were nearly double the amount of people for this year’s third annual event, with 153 diners as opposed to last year’s 77, which resulted in a met goal to raise over $10,000 for the organization best known for its contributions to HIV and AIDS prevention and services.
Significant funds were raised by the Donato J. Tramuto Foundation, the organization founded by Porter’s partner in life and business Donato Tramuto, which contributed $50 per brunch diner and $100 for every diner who contributed their own donation to the Frannie Peabody Center.
Tramuto said the Tramuto Foundation hopes to serve more local organizations and the decision to donate to the Frannie Peabody Center was well-supported by board members.
Mark Register, president and development committee chair for the Frannie Peabody Center, said the fundraising efforts at Five-O will have a direct influence on the success of the Center.
“During this very tedious time regarding the state of Maine, and non-profit organizations, this fundraising success will ensure that the Frannie Peabody Center will be able to accomplish some of its important objectives, especially around prevention of HIV transmission in the state of Maine,” Register said.
Register added that the importance of the Fannie Peabody Center is it “sets the bar for how an AIDS support organization is supposed to function.”
“They provide prevention and support services to Ogunquit and surrounding communities throughout southern Maine,” Register explained. “The Frannie Peabody Center also brings the community together through important fundraising efforts like this.”
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| Jeffrey Porter and Normand Paquin |
Cheryl Staff, an Ogunquit resident and board member for the Tramuto Foundation, said she brought a table of ten friends to enjoy the brunch.
“They do a lot of great things and help everyone in the community,” Staff said of the Frannie Peabody Center.
Wait staff at Five-O barely had a moment to spare as they happily hurried between tables to accommodate guests and usher in patrons as they arrived at the event Porter admitted “exceeded our expectations.”
“Everyone seemed to be really happy with their food. Several commented that it was the best brunch they’ve had in a while,” Porter said. “We were thrilled by the support of the community. We were pleased that Norm and members of the Mainestreet team came in along with Jimmy Lucibello from The Abalonia and supported the Frannie Peabody Center.”
From his seat in the dining room, Lucibello, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1989 and helped transform the Frannie Peabody Center from an unknown organization to a prominent and thriving community-supported non-profit, joked that he attended the brunch for the food.
“I came for the French toast and Bloody Marys,” Lucibello quipped.
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| Jimmy Lucibello shows off his plate of French toast. |
More seriously, Lucibello said he enjoyed the camaraderie among familiar faces who attended the event.
“Instead of writing a check, it brings the community together. It shows the HIV community that we’re here for you and we support you,” Lucibello said. “It’s a boost and it makes you more comfortable in your community.”
Normand Paquin, owner of Mainestreet, said the Frannie Peabody Center is his favorite organization.
“What they provide to the community, what their presence means to southern Maine. The Frannie Peabody Center is the one providing services in Maine,” Paquin said of why he has supported the Center’s efforts. “We want to be part of their presence.”
Paquin mirrored Register’s gratitude to Porter and Tramuto for their efforts within the Ogunquit community and for the Frannie Peabody Center.
“Many thanks to Jeff and Donato and the foundation that made this event possible and so successful,” Register said. “Jeff Porter has proven to be a very dedicated and important member of the FPC board and his involvement and reach has certainly made an impact. This is just one example.”
And as patrons happily chatted, laughed and enjoyed their meals, guest Brian Linden possibly best captured the morning’s mission.
“It’s good food and good drinks for a good cause,” Linden said.
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| Bryan Wilson, Jimmy Lucibello, Brian Linden |
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| Leanne Cusimano, Tramuto Foundation board member and Ogunquit business owner |
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| Normand Paquin, Tyler Rioux, Eddie Gayhart |
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