Behind the Stick for RBAF

By Katie McFadden

Come drink for a good cause! On Saturday, October 25, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Rich Pontieri and Jerry O’Sullivan will be behind the bar at Jamesons (421 Beach 129th Street), guest bartending to raise money for Rockaway Beach Autism Families, and they want YOU to have a good time.

Childhood friends, Pontieri and O’Sullivan paired up behind the bar last year to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, on behalf of O’Sullivan’s daughter, Siobhan.  Now they’re back at it to support a cause with deep meaning for Pontieri. His son, Michael Pontieri, a 10th grader at Teigerman High School, is on the autism spectrum, and Pontieri serves as a board member and is heavily involved in Rockaway Beach Autism Families (RBAF). Additionally, as an author of children’s books, some inspired by his own son, like “Mikey and Busty,” Pontieri spends time visiting special needs classes, and reads his books to kids and leads sock puppet making activities, something based on one of his books, “Has Anyone Seen My Friend?”

Speaking on the first iteration of their bartending fundraising efforts, Pontieri said, “Jerry’s daughter previously had leukemia and she is doing amazing to this day, and he is paying it forward. His brother-in-law is also part of Special Olympics. Now both of us are trying to do our part in raising awareness and money for another great organization.”

RBAF is a grassroots organization that advocates for autism awareness, acceptance and education. The organization hosts monthly meetings, with guest speakers providing information about a variety of resources and services, such as employment, special-needs trusts, therapies and much more. RBAF also hosts a plethora of recreational, fun activities for families of autistic individuals, including the annual Rock Out For Autism Music Festival, Dance Out Under The Stars, Halloween Beach Treasure Hunt, End-Of-Year Holiday Party and more.

To help boost fundraising, Brian Dickeshied had helped the men put together a football box for this Saturday, October 18. At $100 a box, it’s already sold out and $5,000 will go toward RBAF, and $5,000 to the winner. Extra donations will come from the tips that Pontieri and O’Sullivan make next Saturday, October 25, at Jamesons, so tip well! The guys hope to present a nice check to RBAF’s founder, Kami-Leigh Agard, for the organization to continue raising awareness and supporting families with a loved one on the spectrum. And to add to the fun, the event will have a DJ spinning tunes.

“Help us raise money for a great cause and amazing organization, and most importantly, help us raise awareness,” Pontieri said.