The Levittown Chamber of Commerce would like to spotlight Ann Torcivia, owner of Friends Travel and president of The Joey Foundation, who has been in the travel business for more than 40 years. Ann started Friends Travel in 2002 and in 2010 established a foundation in memory of her son, Joseph Mark Torcivia III, otherwise known as Joey, who died in 2000 from aplastic anemia, a rare blood disorder.
A past president of the Levittown Chamber of Commerce and Levittown Kiwanis as well as a past Lieutenant Governor of Kiwanis, her community service work includes projects with Long Island South Central Division of Kiwanis, the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center, East Farmingdale and Seaford Kiwanis clubs.
Ann was most recently awarded the New York State Senate’s Women of Distinction Award by Senator Kemp Hannon. She is a recipient of the same award by the New York State Assembly given by Assemblyman Joseph Saladino and Dave McDonough in the same year and the Nassau County Trailblazer Award by Legislator Dennis Dunne Sr.
Friends Travel’s, she says, is where people are not just clients but friends as well. Friends is a full service travel agency with a specialization in Caribbean destinations and cruises.
The Joey Foundation received its 501C3 designation in 2014 and Ann is proud of the fact that 100% of every dollar goes to the foundation, whose motto is “We put smiles on children’s faces”. Ann says the foundation helps sick children and children in need. It is supported by Ann’s fundraising efforts of craft shows, selling jewelry and selling Dove Chocolate.
The Joey Foundation works closely with Kiwanis who helps children around the world. Through Ann’s efforts, 5,000 books and a new roof were donated to an elementary school in Jamaica West Indies; toys were collected and donated to Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, and donations have been given to Kiwanis’ Eliminate Project and Kamp Kiwanis.
Ann can be reached at her Levittown office by calling 516-822-5966 or by emailing her at [email protected].