Philanthropists provide dollars to two Valley churches

Two churches in the Mahoning Valley have benefitted from the generosity of philanthropists Tony and Mary Lariccia of Boardman.

The couple donated $260,000 to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 343 Via Mount Carmel, Youngstown, where they are members, and $50,000 to Ellsworth Presbyterian Church.

“I feel it’s the right thing to do,” Tony Lariccia said. “Without God, where would we be?”

Tony Lariccia said he and his wife read the story on The Vindicator’s Religion page July 4 about the situation faced by Ellsworth Presbyterian. The landmark church near the intersection of Ohio 45 and US 224 was featured in an article on its Save Our Steeple campaign.

The bell tower was damaged in a wind storm of Sept. 14, 2008, and had begun to lean. Church members learned the tower and the bell, with an estimated weight of 750 pounds, would have to come down and be rebuilt. The initial estimate was $43,000 — a big sum for the 83-member country church.

“My wife and I read the story ... this church is part of our Valley history,” Tony Lariccia said. “This church was here when people got around by horse and buggy.”

“We realize these are tough times and the church was facing its own tough time,” he said.

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com