A Zippy Donation. The Cousins that Care present a $1,000 check to the Zipadellis. From left are: Greg and Ellie Zipadelli, Laura Levi, Shelby Townsend, Croy Hansen, Thomas Levi, Britney Levi, Nan and Gianni Zipadelli. Courtesy photo
The Cousins that Care, a group of seven Inlet cousins who raise money for special causes, made a $1,000 donation to Zippy’s Crusade for Kids during the charity’s event dinner at The Ole Barn on Saturday, January 26.
The cousins raised the money by conducting a raffle for a television.
The Cousins that Care was founded by young Melanie Levi in February 2008, with a goal of raising money for the breast cancer awareness fund-raising organization, the Pink Ribbon Riders.
Since then, Melanie and her cousins, who range in ages from nine to 14, have branched out to help out a number of others, including the families and individuals who benefit from Zippy’s Crusade for Kids.
Since 2008, they have helped to raise over $26,000 through spaghetti dinners, bracelet sales, and raffles. They also have a continual fundraising presence at their family’s restaurant, the Ole Barn.
Their charitable works extends beyond the area, however.
Most recently, Melanie, now a ninth-grader, spearheaded a letter writing campaign to the families effected by the school shootings at Newtown, CT.
The letter encouraged the families to live their lives to the fullest and extended thehope that “no matter how steep the mountain, how deep the water, or how rough the trail, that you can smile.
“Because a small thing like that proves that you are stronger than the person who knocked you down, and you are stronger now than you ever were before.”
Included in the letter was a check for $20 to use however each family wished—with the hope that it would bring a smile to their faces.
The cousins are currently in the process of creating a scholarship that will be awarded to a Town of Webb School student upon graduation.
