Pubdate: Fri, 10 Nov 2000
Source: Staten Island Advance (NY)
Copyright: 2000 Advance Publication Inc.
Contact:  http://www.silive.com/
Forum: http://www.silive.com/forums/

SEIZED DRUG FUNDS GO TO A GOOD CAUSE
	
Drug dealers who have been caught and sent to jail can feel happy about one 
thing: Their ill-gotten gains are being put to good use.

District Attorney William L. Murphy yesterday donated $12,500 in "drug 
money" -- profits seized from drug dealers -- to the Staten Island 
Children's Campaign.

Looking fit and healthy after undergoing a kidney transplant operation 
earlier this year, Murphy presented the check to campaign coordinator Louis 
DeLuca and organization president Mike Fortunato in Murphy's St. George office.

The "asset forfeiture" program, said Murphy, is one of the best 
drug-enforcement tools, a threat to drug dealers that they not only risk 
prison, but the loss of their money, cars and homes.

"We're taking money from the bad guys and giving it to the good guys," said 
Murphy.

The annual campaign sponsored by the Advance reels in funds that are then 
allocated to 20 different children's organizations on the Island.

"The best part," said DeLuca, "is that not one penny of the donations is 
spent on overhead -- 100 percent goes to the kids."

Fortunato said the $12,500 contributed by Murphy will help the campaign 
reach this year's goal of $125,000. Last year, the campaign raised $100,000.

"This is probably the largest single gift that we will receive for the fund 
this year," said DeLuca, who is also the chief executive officer of the New 
Dorp-based United Activities Unlimited.

Murphy said he feels the campaign helps keep Island kids from straying onto 
the wrong path.

A variety of activities are planned between now and the Feb. 15 close of 
the campaign, including volunteers "canning" at the St. George Ferry 
Terminal and "dress-down Fridays" in a variety of Staten Island workplaces.
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