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Fuccillo Automotive Group Raises Over $200,000 For Domestic Violence Awareness Organizations

Carolyn Blackburne

  Anyone who watches television in Central New York knows who Billy Fuccillo is. But today, he was in the limelight for another reason... that was also pretty huge. 

"With all the things going on around the country with domestic violence, we were able to kick in and contribute over 200k to domestic violence organizations," Fuccillo said. 

After seeing the video of NFL Ravens Running Back Ray Rice beating his then fiance, Fuccillo says he was motivated to help the hundreds of Central New Yorkers living in the same situations.  

"I know it woke me up when I heard about those things going on. We want to raise some awareness and hopefully put it to sleep," Fuccillo said.

Fuccillo donated more than $44,000 to Vera House, a local domestic and sexual violence agency which provides shelter, advocacy, and counseling services for survivors as well as education and prevention programs for everyone in the community. 

"The NFL is one case, but here in our community, there are hundreds of cases every week that we're responding to here in our community," executive director of Vera House Randi Bregman said. 

Billy Fuccillo poses with a staff member from Vera House. Vera House is a local domestic and sexual violence agency which provides shelter, advocacy, and counseling services for survivors as well as education and prevention programs for everyone in the community.

  According to Bregman, that money will be going towards therapy and advocacy programs. 

 "I think every time we remind people that it’s okay to talk about domestic violence and that if you’re being abused it’s not your fault, you’re not alone and you deserve support, that we go a long way toward ultimately ending violence in our community," Bregman said. 

For every care that was bought or leased throughout the month of October, Fuccillo donated $100 to a local domestic violence awareness organization.  Other charities which received donations from the campaign included Equinoxin Albany, the Buffalo City Mission in Buffalo, Sojourner House at Pathstonein Rochester, and the Victims Assistance Center of Jefferson County Inc.in Watertown.

 "Wherever the people bought, that's where the money stays," Fuccillo said. "That's really important to us."

But as we all expected, Fuccillo just couldn't resist...

"Because we want to make you and the Vera House what, babe? HUGE."