Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony and Joyce Valente. They and their team share their story with us below:
Tony and Joyce Valente and The Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund
Tony and Joyce were born and raised in Rochester, NY. If you didn’t know where that is, it’s a small town in western NY near Buffalo and close to Niagara Falls, and YES, it’s cold there.
We got married in September of 1989 and started raising our family. We have 3 children, Deanna, Anthony, and Frankie, and 2 grandchildren, Michael and Nicholas.
I worked in the airline industry most of my career, Joyce in Retail Management while raising the kids. We travelled a lot, but we continued to keep our roots in Rochester while the kids were growing up.
We really enjoy the simple things in life; we love to socialize, we like going to events, we like to travel, have fun with friends, and cherish family. Most of our family is still in Rochester; Joyce is from a family of 14 children (YES, 14, and she can recite their names in 5 seconds in order). I have 3 brothers and sisters. Some are in different states and come to visit every now and then.
In 2021, we made the decision to move to Florida. Where in Florida, we had no clue at the time. Prior to that, we were going to move to Las Vegas, where my son Anthony moved in late 2017, but didn’t find quite what we wanted there. Then we took a stab at North Carolina and didn’t really find it there either. While Florida was always an option because we always loved the weather, the atmosphere, and people down here. While looking for homes here, we stayed with our wonderful cousins in Sarasota, Marlena, and Bill, and we just couldn’t decide on a place. Bill said to me one night, just think of what makes you happy, don’t worry about traffic or anything else everyone tells you, find what you both like to do and go there. That kind of opened our eyes more. We then contacted friends of ours from Rochester who moved to Clermont into Heritage Hills, they said come and visit them to see if we liked it there.
So, we took the long trek, 2 hours, from Sarasota to Clermont to visit. As soon as we arrived in the area, we were both getting more and more convinced that we liked it. As soon as we drove into Heritage Hills, saw the amazing palm trees lined up on the boulevard (which we see so many of those in Rochester!!) Joyce and I both looked at each other and said we really love this place. We went for a drive to downtown Winter Garden and our surrounding areas and simply and immediately fell in love with the area. We even met new friends that day at the market in Winter Garden. We knew it was a fit for us. We contacted our now great friend Patti Kincaid, who became our new realtor, and told her what we were looking for. I said look for something in Clermont or Winter Garden or the surrounding areas, but Joyce said, she wanted to live in Heritage Hills and there only. We went from the entire state of Florida to Clermont to Heritage Hills. We narrowed it down significantly. Patti stated looking and found the only home out of thousands Joyce and I looked at that we both agreed on. We bought that house via FaceTime with friends and Patti and never physically saw the house until 1 hour before we closed on it. We could not have been happier, and we have been in Clermont now for a year on August 13th, and wouldn’t change a thing, except we should have done it years ago. Joyce reminds me that is my fault for not wanting to change, LOL
Let’s backtrack a bit, and let you know how the Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund was created, why, and what we have done since then.
Frankie was always that kid that wanted to help others, whether it was his nephews, his brother, his sister, or just anyone. He just was so kind to everyone. When Frankie graduated from High School, he decided he wanted to go into the field of Optical engineering. He started that and realized it wasn’t his passion. He occupied himself while he decided what to do, and he found he loved the outdoors, loved target shooting, and eventually loved designing and milling guns. He took up gunsmithing as a hobby and really enjoyed the satisfaction of creating something from nothing. He also loved to play cards, loved Vegas, and was going to move there one day.
One day, he decided he wanted to help others more and wanted to become an EMT and then a Paramedic. He went to school in Rochester in 2017 to become an EMT. While in school, he was top of his class, his instructors asked him to student teach certain topics since he was so versed in them. He fell in love with this and continued to thrive while learning this new trade. He told Joyce, “I just want to help others,” when asked why.
On January 11, 2018, it a tragic day for our family. Frankie was at work that night; it seemed like a normal day. Joyce and I both spoke to him before work, and all seemed right. We didn’t hear from him, but that comes with being on the Ambulance. Early morning, we received a visit and a call that Frankie had passed away on job… Well, without saying, we were left completely devastated and our lives that have been so wonderful and great turned around in a split second.
Frankie worked for AMR Ambulance in Rochester, NY. While going through this, they were incredibly supportive and stood by our side, along with so many friends and family.
One day during the week of his funeral, a friend came to us and handed us a $500.00 check and said, please put this toward a scholarship in Frankie’s name for a future EMT or Paramedic. Even through our grieving, Joyce and I looked at each other and said, you know what, this is a great idea why can’t we set this up as an entity and do this more than just once? We contact another friend who helped set up the website and donation pages and started the ball rolling from there.
What also was brought to our attention by co-workers of Frankie and his fellow students in class with him was that he gave so much, so much more than Joyce and I didn’t even know. He would go out and babysit for one of his coworkers, who was behind in her labs, so he would watch her child while she got caught up. He would leave diapers at their doorsteps because he knew they were struggling financially. He would buy and bring lunch in for people because he just knew. Did that surprise Joyce and I, absolutely not, but we didn’t see what he did day in and day out to help others.
After Frankie’s funeral, Joyce and I decided to go to work on this special project. I left my job, and for the next year, Joyce and I worked together and created this Fund. In April of 2018, we had a pasta dinner, our very first fundraiser. Joyce made all the sauce, pasta, and meatballs, and we served over 1000 people and raised about $12,000 for the charity. What a great start.
That summer, we held a golf tournament and a partnered with different restaurants to raise more money. Once we had a solid amount of money raised, we set up an endowment in Rochester at Monroe Community College, where students can apply for the EMT or Paramedic scholarship.
We did it; we established the ONLY EMT and Paramedic scholarship in the state of New York in Frankie’s name. We decided to continue. In January of 2019, we held our first Casino Night in Rochester; even though the weekend dropped over 17 inches of snow, we had 230 people attend and raised about $15,000 for the charity.
We started giving scholarships, the school vetted all the applicants and presented Joyce and I with names and an essay as to why they wanted to become an EMT or Paramedic. Then Joyce and I chose 2 people per year to receive this scholarship. We meet with each recipient, have lunch, talk about what Frankie did, and get to know them personally. To date, we have given out 8 scholarships and going strong.
Then in 2020, COVID hit and slowed down progress for us and everyone else. We had to suspend fundraising for 2 years, but we continued to give scholarships during that time.
In 2021, as I stated earlier, we decided to leave Rochester for many reasons, but mainly because Joyce and I felt we needed a new start and a new atmosphere. So many memories in Rochester, which we cherish, but needed to heal as well; therefore Clermont and all new friends here are part of that healing process.
Losing a child is the most devesting thing that can happen to people. You either wither and die with it, or you chose to survive and make something good or great out of absolute tragedy. That is what Joyce and I decided to do.
We are happy to have out first fundraiser since COVID here in Clermont at the Heritage Hills Ballroom on August 20, 2022. As of the writing of this article, we have over 300 people attending, with over 20 corporate sponsors and over $20,000 in donated prizes to raffle that night.
We are back on track and now communicating with local schools in our area to establish an endowment fund here in Florida and work with the Orlando AMR team and the Lake County Ambulance team to see how we can partner and support them.
COVID slowed us down, didn’t stop us, and now we are stronger than ever with amazing support from the community in Heritage Hills, the City of Clermont, and the state of Florida. Let’s not forgot our AMR folks in Rochester, NY, the scholarship at MCC we continue to support, and the opportunities we continue to give to people.
We feel that for every scholarship we grant, for every person we assist, for every life they save, it’s like Frankie having a hand in that. Our core value is helping others help others. This is what Frankie believed in so deeply and how Joyce and I are continuing his legacy and his values through this Fund and through the actions of others who can benefit from it.
We miss our son every minute of every day; there is no replacing that; by giving to others, by them allowing us to enter their lives in a special way, we have peace knowing that even if its small, we can keep Frankie’s memory, values, and actions alive in others. Frankie smiled through his eyes, he touched people by his actions, he moved people with his words, and he led by example. Mention Frankie, talk about him and all he did, and everything we continue to do because of what he did.
God Bless all our First Responders, EMT, Paramedics, Fire, Police, and every other person that helps us every day. May God watch over and continue to provide that hand of protection as they help all of us. And the rest of us will continue to respect, acknowledge and support the work these heroes do day in and day out. To all our fallen heroes, you will always be remembered. We love you, Frankie.
Website: https://frankievalentescholarshipfund.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankievalentescholarshipfund
Tom Arnold Shout OUT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mATFomhcJ30
Rochester NY scholarship Link: https://monroecc.academicworks.com/donors/the-frankie-valente-memorial-ems-endowed-scholarship
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was difficult trying to maneuver to create a Charity in our son’s name while still mourning his passing. We drew strength from each other and from others who helped support us and helped us create the charity so it can be a viable entity and helps other people.
When it got established, my wife and I had little experience fundraising and deciding on what to do and when to do it was hard and difficult while still dealing with our loss.
Gaining support from corporate sponsors to help at event to offset costs was challanging, but we worked through that.
Setting up a Memorial Fund at a local college and granting scholarships was difficult, but the help from the people at the college was great, and they walked us through it.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Tony is currently the Executive Vice President of Safety Decals. I work with the most amazing people and the most creative and dedicated employees in the business. We specialize in custom printing of all kinds, custom employee recognition awards and gifts, Reflective solutions for the transporation industry, and any printing need you can think of.
Joyce is reited and focuses her time and energy on the Frankie Valente Scholarship Fund, and is helping others, help others.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Since we moved to Florida, Clermont specfically, we love the weather; of course, being from NY, this is amazing all year round. We love the support from the community, the sense of togetherness, the friendly people, and the new friends we have made since we have been here.
We have been here a full year in September and it’s nice not shoveling sunshine. Nice to see palm trees every day as well.
We like the entertainment here, the ability to go out and do things, attend events, and have most everything we want a short drive away and at our fingertips.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://frankievalentescholarshipfund.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frankievalentescholarship/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankievalentescholarshipfund
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FundFrankie
Image Credits
Monica Andry Photography
