Staff Writer

The Children’s Advocacy Center of Osceola County received a $5,000 donation Monday for its mental health services from the organization honoring a slain former employee of the agency, Nicole Ganguzza.

The Nicole P. Ganguzza Foundation made its first charitable donation since its inception in December 2008 to the agency where Ganguzza had worked as a child advocate in 2006-07. Ganguzza left the center to pursue her master’s degree in counselor education at the University of Central Florida.

In June 2008, the 26-year-old jogger was murdered while running through Blanchard Park in East Orlando.

“I appreciate the opportunity Nicole had here and what you do for families,” Brendan Ganguzza, Nicole’s husband and one of the foundation’s board of directors, said as he handed center Executive Director Joy Chuba the check.

Nicole handled 25 cases a month, assisting with crisis intervention, referrals and supporting families when a child abuse case had been discovered, Chuba said.

According to Chuba, more than 450 children and their non-offending family members were provided services through the center last year and the funds donated will be used “as soon as we have a family in need,” Chuba said.

“Mental health is such a major component. We will use (the funds) in her memory,” Susan Crutchfield, a center board member, said.

Brendan Ganguzza, who was married to Nicole for 15 months before her death, said his wife enjoyed her employment at the Children’s Advocacy Center because she loved working with children.

“My wife was a very vibrant, very lively,” he said. “She made a real impact in this community.”

Ganguzza himself attended therapy to work through his wife’s murder and wants the children in child abuse allegations and cases to be able to get help.

“It’s going to help these kids to get help because (they could) become the perpetrator down the road,” he said. “It’ll break the cycle.”

Nicole Ganguzza was an avid jogger and she and her husband had just taken up golf before her death. The foundation plans many fundraisers around athletic events such as dodgeball and track in memory of Nicole. A golf fundraiser near the couple’s wedding anniversary in March also is being planned.

Ganguzza said he wants to encourage women to be aware of their surroundings when out in public, especially alone. His wife was jogging alone when she was attacked and no one so far has been charged with her murder.

“The days are shorter and there’s more of an opportunity (to be attacked),” Ganguzza said. “We’re trying to keep women prepared.”

To donate to the the foundation, visit www.NPGFoundation.com.

The center is housed at the Osceola County Council on Aging campus, 700 Generation Point, Kissimmee.