LYNN — When the West Lynn Italian Civic Association made the painful decision to sell its building on Spencer Street earlier this year, the issue became what to do with the money.
The group’s 28 members then met and decided to implement the suggestion from club vice president Wayne Lozzi and his nephew, president Brian Lozzi, to use the money it made from the sale of the building to help different community groups. Among them were 13 youth organizations, including all five of Lynn’s Little Leagues, the Lynn Challenger League, Lynn Babe Ruth baseball, both East and West Lynn Pop Warner, the Lynn Chargers, Lynn Youth Hockey and Lynn Youth Soccer.
Other groups receiving money from the sale of the building are St. Pius, Holy Family, Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart, churches in Lynn and St. Margaret’s of Saugus.
Each of the aforementioned groups received gifts of $5,000. The checks are still in the process of being distributed, Wayne Lozzi said.
Also on the list for other gifts were the Boys and Girls Club, Girls Inc., Centerboard, Lynn Elder Affairs, “and numerous other organizations,” said Wayne, who is also Councilor of Ward 1.
“We’re saddened that the club is dissolving,” Wayne said, “but we’re pleased and grateful that we’re able to help out these organizations and numerous charities.
“We wanted to leave a legacy of helping out the community,” he said. “There is a rich heritage there — a lot of good families from Lynn.”
Lack of membership spelled the end of the club, which borders the new Market Basket.
“We were down to 28 members,” said Brian. “The only time we ever meet was to pay bills. The building became stagnant, and you know what happens when buildings are not used. They deteriorate.”
That’s when the members decided to sell the building. The buyer was A1 Prime Energy, which owns two gas stations in Lynn, one on Boston Street that was recently razed and is being rebuilt; and the other on Western Avenue.
Brian, who is involved with the Lynn Chargers of the Northeast Conference of Youth Football, said it was decided that all groups regardless of size would get the same donation.
“I don’t care if the group has 50 kids or 500,” he said. “I know that $5,000 for any of those youth groups is a good portion of money not having to fund raise for.”
Brian said other gifts will go to the Hibernian Hall, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Lions Clubs, Italian Home for the Children in Jamaica Plain, Franco American club, the St. Jude Foundation, Dana Farber, Boston Children’s Hospital, Shriners, and then National Kidney Foundation, Northeast Animal Shelter, Autism Awareness National, Camp Fire, Franciscan Children in Brighton, and the Italian club on Harbor Street.
“I want to thank my family (12 of the club’s 28 members are from the Lozzi family), and the rest of the members, for agreeing to do this,” Wayne said. “I’m very pleased they were agreeable to this.”
