Park Slope Businessman and Brooklynian Does Good

jamzer

I first saw this on Fucked in Park Slop.

I could be wrong, but I think Nick posts here under the moniker Landlord.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/03/04/2010-03-04_happy_feet_again_biz_owner_helps_dance_troupe_finance_trip.html#ixzz0hDPT8xi3

Park Slope biz owner helps dance troupe 'Dancewave' finance trip to Scotland for Aberdeen Festival
BY Ben Chapman
DAILY NEWS WRITER

Thursday, March 4th 2010, 4:00 AM

Fevelo for NewsNick Kotsonis Owner of The Slope a fitness center in Park Slope pledged money to save a dance troupe in Brooklyn NY. Related NewsMoonwalker II: At 6, boy already channels Michael JacksonZazi high school pals to face more terror charges A new Bronx tale: Rezonings, cultural institutions drive growth in this boro strongholdTheater troupe stages 'Crucible' inside stone farmhouseMighty Quinn: Mar. 3He's the angel of Park Slope.

A neighborhood businessman is coming to the rescue of a local dance company that was ripped off on its way to performing at an arts festival in Scotland.

The amateur teen troupe Dancewave won a slot last October to perform at the prestigious Aberdeen Festival - the only American group invited to perform.

The only wrinkle was the company had to pay its own way to the festival, which runs from July 27 through Aug. 7 and is expected to attract 30,000 people.

Raising that kind of money was a tall order, especially since half of the troupe's 16 members come from low-income families.

"Most of our kids couldn't afford to go to Europe without this trip," said company director Diane Jacobowitz. "It's an opportunity of a lifetime, and they worked hard for it."

To raise money for the trip, the scrappy teens - who practice out of PS 77 on Park Place - pooled their baby-sitting cash, held benefit performances and asked friends and family for help.

They were on their way to paying for the journey when a phony travel agent ripped them off for almost $9,000 in January.

"I couldn't believe anyone could be so heartless," said dancer Nola Smith, 17. "It was a terrible shock to all of us."

Police are investigating the case, but the money is still missing.

The dancers' luck turned around when Nick Kotsonis, the owner of Slope Health and Fitness, read about their troubles in the Daily News.

"When I read the story, I thought it was a great opportunity for these kids," said Kotsonis, 44, whose family opened the Purity Diner on Seventh Ave. in 1929 and sold it in 1986. "They're good kids and they deserve this chance."

The third-generation Park Slope businessman pledged to donate $10,000 to the troupe if it could first raise $10,000 on it own.

Last week, the group exceeded its $10,000 fund-raising goal, and Kotsonis is ready to deliver on his pledge.

He'll present his check to Dancewave at an open-to-the-public rehearsal next Wednesday at PS 77.

It's enough money to guarantee the dancers will make the trip, but the troupe still needs to raise another $20,000 to pay for the journey in full.

To attend Wednesday's event or make a donation, visit www.dancewave.org or call (718) 522-4696.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/03/04/2010-03-04_happy_feet_again_biz_owner_helps_dance_troupe_finance_trip.html#ixzz0hFQrU9RR

Nice job Nick!

longtimesloper

Cool

shishkab

thanks for posting. hubby and i donated.