Karate Schools Raise Nearly $16K To Help Brick Family

When a fire destroyed Debbie Barone’s home in late July, just days after she put the house up for sale, it left the Brick Township resident with her dog and little more than the clothes she and her three children had on their backs.

Family and friends have stepped in to help Barone, her 21-year-old twins Gina and Joseph and 18-year-old son Michael. But one of the biggest boosts, friends say, has come from Paul Prendergast’s karate schools in Brick and Toms River.

The two karate schools have been collecting donations large and small on behalf of the family. Earlier this month, they presented Debbie Barone with a check for $15,721, said Bob Picone, Debbie’s boyfriend.

“They did so much work to try to help them get through,” Picone said. Debbie and her children are very grateful to Paul Prendergast and to all of the karate school’s families for their help, he said.