Tipp Hill man sends check from behind bars
ROMULUS --
Like thousands of Central New Yorkers, Cardinal Paradiso watched the Help for Haiti telethon on January 18th, but because he's behind bars, he could not phone in a donation. Instead, he wrote us a letter---and included a $100 check.
After a month of paperwork with the State Corrections Department, we went to the Five Points Correctional Facility, in Romulus, to talk to him about his commitment to helping the earthquake victims.
"It hit home," he says of the Haiti devastation, "so we're trying to do something a bit more for it."
His tattoo parlor on Syracuse's Milton Avenue is closed, but he's opened new businesses, a tattoo parlor, a leather store and a motorcycle sales, in Central Square. And, he's pledged part of his profits in continuing support of Haiti relief. 'I'm not a quitter,' he says. 'These people will be needing our help 20 years from now.
Paradiso is 60, from Syracuse's Tipperary Hill, and is doing time for felony driving while intoxicated. Once he's paroled, he hopes to do larger fundraisers for Haiti relief, including a benefit motorcycle ride. And, he would also like to do something for people like him, people who drink and drive. He's working on a group 'Riders for Drunk Drivers' which would offer safe rides home. "I feel like I got a new start," he says. I don't believe I got arrested. I believe I got rescued."
And, he says his check for Haiti relief is just the first installment on repaying his debt.
February 28th is the deadline for donating to Haiti relief, and get the tax deduction. The Red Cross has already received $226,411.19 from 2,585 donors. For more information, or to donate: www.RedCross.org
And, there's an SU/Derrick Coleman telethon Friday, 3:00-6:00 p.m. on ESPN radio 1260 and Time Warner Cable Sports 13:
