Adelia in her finished bathroom
Calcagni Realtor Ralph Riccio Volunteers with Make-a-Wish Foundation to Make Young Girl’s Wish Come
February 26, 2021—SOUTHINGTON, CONN.—Calcagni Real Estate announced recently that Ralph Riccio, a Realtor in the company’s Southington office location, has worked with Make-a-Wish Foundation of Connecticut to design and build out a new, wheelchair accessible bathroom for Adelia, an 8-year-old girl from Farmington, Connecticut.
Riccio, who for decades worked in the non-profit sector before making the leap into remodeling homes and real estate, was initially drawn to the project for its philanthropy, but leapt at the chance to head it up upon meeting Adelia and seeing her brilliant smile. “That was it,” Riccio said. “Seeing that smile, I said ‘Yes!’ on the spot.”
Riccio learned about the project from his friend Brian Murtari, a volunteer with Make-a-Wish Foundation Connecticut. He then contacted trusted vendor partners and contractors that he’s worked with throughout his home renovation and house-flipping projects to ask for their donations and labor assistance. Together with these ven-dors, Riccio, Murtari, their wives and some of their children pitched in to completely remodel Adelia’s existing bathroom.
The original shower had a 4” lip on it, with tight spaces that made it difficult for Adelia to use. Together with this team of dedicated professionals, Riccio redesigned and reconstructed the bathroom to include a zero entry shower, a wheelchair-friendly door frame with a sliding barn door and laundry room with storage. They also moved the toilet and replaced the countertop to create a new double sink vanity. The project in its entirety took place over several weekends, with vendors volunteering time, financial resources, labor and some materials to make it happen. “No one even hesitated when I asked,” Riccio shared. “The minute I described Adelia and what she needed, everyone was on board, including Calcagni, who helped cover some of the expenses. We all pulled together to get this done, and to get it done safely during COVID-19.”
“Ralph’s passion for giving back exemplifies what we look for in our agents and what Calcagni strives to be as a company,” said Antonio Liguori, President. “His enthusiasm for this project was contagious, and we’re honored to have been able to help support him as he made Adelia’s wish come true.”
Along with Riccio and Calcagni Real Estate, Riccio’s vendor partners included Youman Electrical Services, Inc., Stone Valley Granite & Marble, LLC, B-Z Designs, Tile America New Haven, John Boyle Design Centers, CWPM and Mike’s Woodshop. Materials were also purchased from Home Depot, CT Lighting Centers, Hardware Source, Amazon, House of Doors and Lowes.
As thrilled as Adelia and her mother are with their new bathroom, Riccio claimed it was he who received the best reward of all. “As someone who worked for years in non-profit, I love giving back. This project fed my soul in a way that I haven’t been able to for too long. I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”
