Boy Scout's event exceeds funds needed to build well

Staff report

CANFIELD

Nick Crescimanno not only reached his goal of raising $5,300 to build a well in Haiti, he exceeded it more than three times.

Crescimanno, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 115 of Canfield, raised $16,634 at his “Yell for the Well” music festival Aug. 4 and before the festival with donations from local businesses.

“It was a team effort and everyone should be proud,” Crescimanno said.

Crescimanno decided to have a music festival at his church, St. Michael Catholic Church, to raise money for Food for the Poor, an organization that helps the poor in South American and Caribbean countries. The festival was a project he must complete to receive his Eagle Scout badge.

The 17-year-old Canfield High School graduate spent all summer, with help from friends and family, planning and campaigning to build a water well in Haiti.

One well costs $5,300 to build, and now Food for the Poor can build three wells with the proceeds from Crescimanno’s event, which brought in more than 700 people. The organization also will have a private donor match the funds to build an additional three wells.

“It is not just the dollar amount, it’s the fact that we are going to be able to reach out to many people and change lives,” Crescimanno said.

One well can reach 200 to 300 families, Crescimanno said.

The additional $700 taken in from the fundraiser will go to the orphanage St. Michael Catholic Church sponsors, Village of Hope Lazarus Project.