STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — O’Neill’s Angels, a Westerleigh-based nonprofit organization, is carrying forward the legacies of three late family members whose lives were dedicated to helping others.
On Saturday, the charity made up of family and friends gathered at LiGreci’s Staaten in West Brighton for its kickstarter fundraiser. Organizers had been planning the event for many months, but their mission to connect with the community, build lasting memories with their relatives and help those around them started much earlier.
Years prior to the ballroom celebration, the family had come together for more somber causes — they had attended the funerals of three of their members.
“Our three angels were a really integral part of our family,” said Erin O’Hanlon, one of the founders and board members of O’Neill’s Angels. “They were the people who lifted us up. They pointed us in the right direction. They led the way. They helped us be good and they helped us work hard.”…