- April 17, 2024
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Michael Alberico loved three things with all his heart in his lifetime: his family, good food and the Hawaiian Islands.
The Ormond Beach resident was a "little celebrity" at Mezzaluna Pizzeria at Halifax Plantation, said his sister Jennifer Capri. Despite his degenerative disease, he woke up every day happy and full of joy. That is a part of his legacy that she and her family hope continues to live on in the community.
“He did a lot for not being able to do a lot, if that makes sense," Capri said.
On Saturday, June 19, eight weeks since the 42 year old's death in April, his family hosted a fundraiser outside Mezzaluna that combined all of Alberico's loves. The Morning Star School Ohana Fundraiser in his memory raised almost $700 for Morning Star School, a special education school in Jacksonville that serves children in kindergarten through 12th grade. The donations will help fund a therapeutic sensory room at the school.
The fundraiser was also presented by the Florida Cinderella Scholarship program, and hosted by Florida Cinderella Ambassador Gianna Capri, Alberico's niece. Alberico's nephew Anthony will be entering seventh grade at Morning Star School in the fall.
"It was a good way to honor him," Jennifer Capri said.
The International Cinderella Scholarship program was founded in 1976 and has since grown into one of the most prestigious scholarship-oriented pageant system of its kind, according to a a press release. It champions the need and value of higher education for women, and has promoted that goal by awarding millions of dollars in cash college scholarships to young women in the U.S. and a host of foreign countries.
The fundraiser featured tropical themed items to pay tribute to the Hawaiian islands, which were special to Alberico. They use to vacation there as a family, Capri recalled. According to his obituary, Alberico swam with dolphins on his last trip to the islands in 2014.
“Michael was our ‘Ohana," Capri said. "He embraced everything about the Hawaiian islands.”
As of Monday, June 21, $1,190 has been raised to help the Morning Star School, surpassing the $1,000 goal. Donations will continue to be accepted through the end of June. Visit https://www.facebook.com/donate/173049811440282/
This story was updated at 7:51 p.m. on Monday, June 21, to correct that Michael Alberico died this past April, and not in April 2020 as originally stated.
