Teen Pianist Raises Nearly $3K More For 'Ms. P's' Son At Farmingdale Fundraiser

FARMINGDALE, NY — Piano-playing teenager Mariano Schwartz raised an additional $2,984 for Joseph Pellettiere, the 2-year-old son of the late Gina Pellettiere.

Schwartz performed two Saturdays in a row at 317 Main Street in Farmingdale, a restaurant he buses for, with all of his tips going to Joseph after his mother was killed in a bus crash. Between the two nights, he raised approximately $8,500 for Joseph's education.

"Ms. P," the band director at Farmingdale High School, was on her way to the school's annual band camp trip in Greeley, Pennsylvania, when the bus she was on tumbled down a 50-foot ravine in Orange County. Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, died in the crash. Ferrari was a retired teacher who chaperoned band camp each year.

Schwartz thinks his second fundraiser went "amazingly," he said.

"It went super great," he told Patch. "The energy in the room was great, and seeing everyone there was just so nice."

Related:

• Thank You, 'Ms. P': Honoring The Music Teacher And Her Impact On Us
• Gina Pellettiere's Rise To Farmingdale Band Director
• Remembering Gina Pellettiere: Farmingdale Band Students Share Memories
• 'Life Of The Party': Beloved Farmingdale Music Teacher Laid To Rest
• 'The Most Beautiful Soul': Farmingdale's Bea Ferrari Mourned
• Fundraisers For 'Ms. P's' Son, Farmingdale Students Hurt In Bus Crash
• LI Students Critically Injured In Bus Crash In 'Less Critical Care'

Schwartz raised more than $5,400 at his first event. The total from the first Saturday does not include 317 Main Street kicking in 20% of its food and beverages income from that night. The restaurant raised over $1,000 the first session.

"I would say I'm proud, but I don't really think this is about me," Schwartz said. "I think this is more about Joseph and how he's gonna get his education now."

He thanked everyone in the community for supporting him during his fundraisers for Joseph.

"If it wasn't for them, nothing would have really happened, so I'd like to say thanks to everyone in Farmingdale," he said.

Brian Schwartz, the father of Mariano and his brother, Shane, spoke at the second session to a crowded audience at 317 Main Street, where he said he felt he had to address those who said he has such great kids.

"I explained to them that activism through compassion is not a gesture," Brian said. "It's a way of life."

Since Shane and Mariano were able to walk, their father said, they've been in battered women's shelters helping out. They've spent Christmas Eves in crowded apartments with immigrants handing toys to children they didn't know — toys they bought with their own money. They've spent time in the South Bronx, South Philly, South Baltimore, and Los Angeles.

"It's just what we do," Brian said. "We don't expect nothing from it. We almost feel, not to be religious, that when you give so much, the recipient is not the person who benefits the most. It's the person doing the giving. That's just something I taught my kids from day one."

Brian said he got "very emotional" during his speech at the restaurant.

"As a father, you preach and preach and preach and you lead by example as much as possible. You never know if it's getting through. On weeks like this, you see that it did. You witness the culmination of 20 years of work. These kids, they're going to do great in life. But the fact that they're going to use their success to empower others is a whole lot more important than how many zeroes come after their net worth. I think they really understand that and that it was reinforced these last couple of weeks."

Brian shared a message that he directed toward the younger people in the audience but feels applies to everyone.

"Every morning when you wake up, the second thing you should do — because the first thing you should do is thank God that you woke up — but the second thing you should do is ask yourself is, 'How am I going to make someone else's day better?'" Brian said. "If you started every day asking yourself, 'How am I going to make someone else's day better?' I just think if you get in that habit, it's muscle memory. It doesn't always need to be someone you know. It doesn't always need to be someone directly connected to you. Helping out others is a human instinct. So if we get back to being human again, I think your life will play out pretty good."

Joe Fortuna, co-owner of 317 Main Street, The Nutty Irishman and Vico, previously told Patch that it is an "honor and a privilege" to team up with Mariano for his fundraisers.

Eric LeVine, a chef and partner at the restaurants, added that Schwartz's commitment to fundraising shows his character and depth as a young man "properly raised by amazing parents."

Mariano has routinely donated 100% of his tips to good causes.

Since Jan. 7, Schwartz has raised $10,000 for the Bronx Veterans Medical Research ReWalk program, which designs exoskeleton walking suits that enable disabled veterans to stand up and walk again. In June, he handed off the donations to disabled veterans who got up and walked over to him using the technology he helped fund.