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DANIEL DISTEFANO MICHAEL WESTERN MEMORIAL FUND
NESCONSET, NY · EIN 262039060 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE B82 · Education · Micro (<$100K) · rememberdanandmike.com
revenue
—
expenses
$1K
net assets
$17K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THE PRIMARY EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION IS TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP FUND TO GIVE ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES TO HELP DEFER TUITION.

profile · synthesized from sources

DANIEL DISTEFANO MICHAEL WESTERN MEMORIAL FUND is a scholarship foundation established in memory of two individuals who died in a car crash. The organization raises funds through community events and sponsorships to provide annual scholarships for students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes to help defer tuition costs. It operates primarily in the Smithtown, NY area.

named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Motorcycle Run
Fundraising event involving a motorcycle run to support the scholarship fund
Open Mic Night
Community fundraising event featuring local performers to support scholarship initiatives
Rock Garden
Memorial garden at Smithtown High School West dedicated to Daniel Distefano and Michael Western, funded through community donations and brick sales
Tribute Concert
Annual memorial concert held to honor Daniel Distefano and Michael Western while raising funds for scholarships
activities · 3 groups

What they do

  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Awarding scholarships to Smithtown high school seniors
      Provides financial assistance to qualifying Smithtown high school seniors pursuing college, awarding four scholarships annually of up to $500 each for college credit courses. Scholarship information is maintained and updated for applicants.
  • Commemorative Brick and Memorial Installations 1 activity
    • Maintaining a memorial rock garden at Smithtown High School West
      Established and maintains a memorial rock garden at Smithtown High School West, including hosting a dedication ceremony on December 20, 2008, and supporting it through initiatives like the "Buy a Brick" fundraiser.
  • Benefit Events for Arts and Culture 1 activity
    • Organizing fundraising events
      Hosts a variety of fundraising events including tribute concerts, motorcycle runs, open mic nights, dinner and mystery theater events, and Chinese auctions to support scholarship and memorial initiatives.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue—
Contributions & grants——
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$1K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits—
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$17K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$17K
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

Who runs it

board members · 2
  • ANITA DISTEFANO — DIRECTOR
  • JANET WESTERN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • Cintron Partner — Wrote and donated a song in memory of Daniel Distefano.
  • Cool Beanz Partner — Hosted the Open Mic Night fundraiser in St. James.
  • Francesco Romano Partner — Website copyright holder and likely contributor to the rock garden project.
  • ILA Longshoremen's Union Partner — Sponsor of the organization
  • Inside Edition Partner — Collaborated with Inside Edition on a segment about school lunch dangers.
  • NY State Troopers Government — Represented by MAJ. Walter Heesch and Frank Bandiro in support of the organization
  • Outback (Commack) Partner — Sponsor of the organization
  • Randy Coven Partner — Dedicated "NU SCHOOL" to Daniel Distefano.
  • Smithtown High School Partner — Collaborates with Smithtown High School to identify and support qualifying seniors through the scholarship application process.
  • Smithtown High School Partner — Source of scholarship applicants
  • Smithtown High School West Partner — Hosted the tribute concert and Rock Garden Dedication Ceremony.
  • Smithtown Landing Partner — Represented by Chris Heslin and Mike Hebron as supporters of the organization
  • Tender Lawn Care Partner — Sponsor of the organization
  • The Last Stop Partner — Partner band performing at the tribute concert.
  • Watermill Inn Partner — Host venue for the dinner and mystery theater fundraiser.
strategies · 3

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Focused Memorial and Tribute Model
    methodology: community-tribute-events
    By anchoring memorial activities in local community participation—through tribute events, physical memorials, and visual documentation—we strengthen collective remembrance and sustained engagement, because localized, participatory rituals deepen public connection to the individuals honored and the mission.
  • Event-Based Fundraising with Thematic Engagement
    methodology: event-based_fundraising
    By hosting themed dinner events and concerts, we generate sustainable funding for scholarships, because experiential fundraising increases donor engagement and community investment more effectively than passive giving.
  • Merk-based Scholarships with Readiness Assessment
    methodology: merit-and-readiness-assessment
    By awarding scholarships based on both academic merit (AP enrollment) and personal readiness (recommendations), we increase the likelihood of supporting students who will successfully pursue higher education, because this dual filter identifies both achievement and preparedness for post-secondary success.