'Real Rhode Islander' Charity Calendar Winners Named

Winners of the first annual 'Real Rhode Islander' charity calendar contest to benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation were named Saturday in front of a packed crowd of onlookers and finalists at Monet Lounge in Providence.

Finalists to be included on the charity calendar are: Jane Bernardino, Tracie Bourget, Cheryl Cusick, Ashley Flynn, Shauna Fontaine, Gail Gutierres, Cheryl Howard, Michelle Mitchell, Melissa Morales, Mallory Palumbo, Yvonne Peret, Christina Pimentel, Carol Ventura, Jenny Vingi, Jasmine Zen-Mah, Michael J. Baccari, Giovanni Calise, Steven Capaldi, Richard Cassella, Lareto Guglietta, Spogga Hashway, Jay Jones, Jeffrey V. Leechman, Omar Meer M.D., Frank Pantaleo, Shane Michael Piche, Danny Poulos, Andrew Reis, Jonathan Segal and Bob Ventura.

Winners were selected out of several hundred initial nominees, nearly a hundred of which were personally interviewed by a panel of official judges at three locations over three weeks time.

Thirty winning contestants, 15 men and 15 women were judged out of 60 finalists to be 'Real Rhode Islanders' and will be featured on two distinct official 2009 calendars. Sales of those calendars will benefit the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

Contestants between the ages of 21 and 60 were judged during live interviews on the successes they portrayed, the goodness of their "inner being," their positive impact on the community and their photogenic qualities. They had to live in Rhode Island to qualify, and many contestants were also either cancer survivors or had family members that suffered from the disease.

Stacey Caputi, originator of the 'Real Rhode Islander' charity calendar concept announced that the calendars will be released for sale in time for Breast Cancer awareness month in October 2008. They will be available at all Tim Hortons, Curves, Gloria Gemma Foundation events, Brown book store, online and numerous other store locations to be announced. The calendar will sell for $19.99 and proceeds raised will benefit the Gloria Gemma Cancer Research Foundation.

According to the cancer society, one out of every eight women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives. Chances of developing breast cancer increase with age and eighty percent (80%) of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

This first annual event was sponsored by Tim Hortons, Monet Lounge, Sentinel Limousine, The 1149 Restaurant, Omnia Agency, Martinelli Caputi Ltd, Roba Dolce, Newport Storm Beer, Ruths Chris Steak House, Rum Jungle, RI Sports Review, Belmont Market and Curves Fitness.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com