Saturday fund raiser will benefit Neil Ingenito, a 2005 M-W star

MONROE — A fund raiser will be held tomorrow, Aug. 10, at American Legion Post 488 in Monroe to benefit Monroe resident Neil Ingenito, to assist him as he nears his release from Kessler Institute in West Orange, N.J.

Ingenito, 25, is recovering from an October 2012 auto accident.

After finishing a delivery in Tuxedo for Dana Distributors, Ingenito pulled onto a highway, where his vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a truck. He suffered a traumatic brain injury from the impact and was in a coma for more than five months.

Nearly nine months after the accident, Ingenito is starting to show signs of progress in his rehabilitation at Kessler.

Andy Franco, one of Ingenito’s best friends who visits him twice a week, said he’s making small improvements, starting to say a few words and beginning to throw a baseball.

Ingenito was the captain of the 2005 Monroe-Woodbury state championship football team. He returned an interception for a touchdown in a 32-10 win over Webster Thomas in the state final.

Tom Kennedy of Dana Distributors in Goshen, who helped organize the fund raiser, said a medical transportation vehicle has already been donated to Ingenito by John Luedke of the WEL Foundation.

Organizers expect more than 200 people to attend. Tickets are $50 at the door for adults and $15 at the door for children.

To learn more, call 615-3236.
- Nancy Kriz