Joey Hill Defense Fund Unifies Community

BY CASSANDRA HARRIS-LOCKWOOD
Utica Phoenix

Joseph Hill

The Joey Hill Defense Fund is up and running. Mark Mazzo, former 5^th District Common Council candidate, has made good his pledge to assist Joey Hill’s legal costs stemming from the October bank robbery of NBT Bank in downtown Utica.

The date will be January 7, 2012 from 1 to 5 PM at the Leisure Time Center at 1115 West Street.

“There will be free food and refreshments for attendees and it will be free admission. We don’t want to charge $5 to get in if someone can donate that $5. We will have raffle tickets and donated gift baskets for people to bid on. We have a bank account set up in Joey’s name and will accept donations  right up to the date of the event.

“It’s a great joint community event. We all care about Joey. Kevin Shanley, who also ran for the Common Council seat, is helping out too. There are a lot of people who are stepping up for this one. It really is a community effort.

“We’ve had successful fundraisers before. The last one was for the gentleman whose dog was shot. We raised over $1,000 for him. I am sure we can do a good job for Joey.”

Winner of the 5^th District Council seat, incumbent  Jerome McKinsey was asked about his participation in the January 7^th event.  “I would absolutely attend something like that. If I can’t make it,  I will certainly send a donation.

“I’m all for anything going on that is in the best interest of Joey. He is like family to the entire community.  Anything I can do to ease the financial burden on the family I will certainly participate in.

“We’ve been taking care of Joey for years. There’s a whole bunch of us who support him. He’s been part of every event we do in the community. We look out after him always.”

Anyone interested in donating to the legal defense of Hill can send a check made out to Joey Hill Defense Fund and send it to Mr. Mazzo’s address at 1605 Brinkerhoff Avenue or give a call to Mazzo at 790-5061. Mazzo will personally pick up the donation and deposit it to the account.

Stay tuned for updates on the Joey Hill Defense Fund in the Utica Phoenix.

By Mark Ziobro