Family Comes First on Telecare
July Family Comes First flyer (pdf) | August Family Comes First flyer (pdf)
Click to hear KJOY's Kim Berk interview Vincent J. Russo about "Family Comes First™"!
Cablevision Channel 29 in Nassau & Suffolk, Cablevision Channel 73 in Brookhaven, and Verizon FiOS TV Channel 271
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Arthritis - Haubner Family Story Monday, 7/7, 10:30pm Click here to watch this episode. |
Elder Care – Belmonte Family Story
Friday, 7/11, 11:00am
Monday, 7/14, 10:30pm
Tuesday, 7/15, 2:00pm
Thursday, 7/17, 9:00pm
Alzheimer’s – Richmond Family
Story
Friday, 7/18, 11:00am
Monday, 7/21, 10:30pm
Tuesday, 7/22, 2:00pm
Thursday, 7/24, 9:00pm
Special Needs – English Family Story
Thursday, 7/3, 9:00pm
Friday, 7/25, 11:00am
Monday, 7/28, 10:30pm
Tuesday, 7/29, 2:00pm
Thursday, 7/31, 9:00pm
Press Release
WESTBURY, NY, May 9, 2008 – Today, good reality programming will premiere exclusively on Telecare, the television station of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
Family Comes First™ is a four-part television series that focuses on challenges real-life Long Island families are facing and offers viewers advice and resources from leading Long Island community organizations including the Arthritis Foundation, Long Island Chapter; Alzheimer’s Association, Long Island; and United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau County. Vincent J. Russo, Managing Shareholder, Vincent J. Russo & Associates, P.C. and Kim Berk, of KJOY-FM’s Jim and Kim in the Morning show, co-host.
Family Comes First™ is about sharing, educating, relating and responding to life’s challenges. Each episode focuses on one topic – Arthritis, Elder Care, Alzheimer’s, Special Needs - profiles the challenges and triumphs of one family, offers viewers information on resources available to them from local community organizations and is highlighted by a spiritual message given by Monsignor James M. Mc Namara, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Nesconset, NY. Monsignor McNamara embraces the storyline of each episode with spiritual reflections and practical advice.
Here’s a snapshot of each episode:
The Haubner Family Story - Mark, who was severely-challenged by osteoarthritis at the age of forty-four, shares his story, his family and his advice for living with arthritis. Mr. Pat McAsey and Ms. Pat Brasley from the Arthritis Foundation, Long Island Chapter share insights, resources and news on the latest in treatment.
The Belmonte Family Story - Peter, a baby-boomer, is juggling a job, his own family of four, his responsibilities to his Mom who lives in the community, and his Father, who after a painful family decision, is in a nursing home. How does this family cope? Our very own co-host, Vincent J. Russo speaks to viewers about the importance of planning.
Gloria & David Richmond’s Story - Gloria’s story about her husband, David, is heart-warming and heart-breaking, emotions not unknown to those who suffer silently through the effects of Alzheimer’s on a loved one. What are her emotions, experiences, support system? Ms. MaryAnn Malach-Ragona, Executive Director and CEO, Alzhiemer’s Association, Long Island shares information, resources and the latest news in research for treatment with viewers.
Kiara and Monique English’s Story – How many single
mothers are out there like Monique English whose heart is bursting
with joy because her twenty-one-year-old daughter, Kiara, is graduating?
Kiara is graduating from the Children’s Learning Center at
United Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County (UCPN), Roosevelt,
Long Island, where she has been a student since the age of three.
Monique tells their story and Mr. Kurt Murgo of UCPN offers viewers
advice and information about resources.
When asked about how he conceived both the title and the content
of the series, Vincent J. Russo states, “The time is always
right for family. All of us can relate, in one way or another, to
the real families in our series. You realize that if you change
a name or a face, it could be YOU. Family Comes First™ affirms
that family and community are the answers. We need each other as
we journey together through life.”
“I was thrilled when Vincent called and asked if I would co-host Family Comes First™,” said Kim Berk. “I have met so many special and inspirational people doing this program. If we can help just one person or one family through this effort, then it is a complete success.”
About the Co-Hosts:
Vincent J. Russo brings over twenty years of professional experience to Family Comes First™ as an attorney and an advocate for seniors, children and adults with special needs. He is an author, lecturer and teacher.
Kim Berk is the co-host of KJOY-FM’s Jim and Kim in the Morning radio show and host of Island Outlook.
About Telecare:
Telecare is a not-for-profit, state of the art television and production
facility of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. For more than 30 years,
Telecare has been dedicated to answering a critical need on Long
Island: to provide millions of viewers with quality, value-oriented
television. The Telecare schedule airs 7 days a week, 24 hours a
day, reaching millions of households, spreading God’s Word
through its religious and educational programming, touching the
lives of people of faith wherever they may be.