Two charities will benefit from Rising Stars event

Two local not-for-profit organizations — the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and the Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation — will be the beneficiaries of a raffle to be held at The Home Reporter and Brooklyn Spectator’s upcoming Brooklyn Rising Stars Awards & Networking Event on March 22, 2012 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Stage 6 at Steiner Studios.

The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation — based at the redeveloped industrial park in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge — advocates local economic development and creates employment opportunities in the area.

Its share of the proceeds from the raffle will help support their education and employment programs. The corporation reaches nearly 5,000 school children yearly, granting free enrichment programs and field trips to the Navy Yard’s new state-of-the-art visitors and exhibition center.

The Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation was established by Camille Loccisano to keep her promise to her late son, Francesco, who wanted to help other kids with cancer when he got better. The Loccisano Foundation helps families who have children with cancer and who are under financial stress. It has helped over 100 families throughout the country in the last five years and is striving to help more.

Prizes for the raffle will include two roundtrip tickets on Delta with a two-night stay in Punta Cana, Mexico; two foursomes of golf, one that can be used at any New York City golf course and one for Dyker Beach Golf Course, and two roundtrip tickets on JetBlue. Door prizes will also be awarded.

The Brooklyn Rising Stars Awards & Networking Event honors the young professionals of the community who epitomize superior work, not only in their field, but within the community. The night will highlight networking with Brooklyn’s notable professionals as well as an expo with area top businesses. To purchase tickets, visit www.homereporternews.com.