By Phil Corso
Nearly one year after his death, a tight-knit Queens community came together in Whitestone Sunday to raise money in honor of Christos “Angel Boy” Voulkoudis to help build a memorial rock garden and gazebo at his former pre-school.
The Bayside boy drowned during an Independence Day celebration in a relative’s swimming pool in Douglaston last year, but his presence was felt Sunday throughout Raggedy Ann’s Childrens’ Boutique on 14th Avenue at an all-day fund-raiser with photos displayed and special “Angel Boy” blue bracelets made in his honor.
The store put up 50 percent of the money it made throughout the day for a memorial fund for little Christos. Funds will also go to the nearby Pee-Wee Folks Pre-School, which the boy attended as a student before his death. With the school’s help, a backyard memorial rock garden and gazebo will be built in Christos’ honor.
“We wanted to get people together to do something and give back,” said store owner Anna Toufexis, who designed the special “Angel Boy” bracelets. “We’re all good friends.”
Most guests trickling in and out of the Whitestone store stopped to share a moment, a handshake or just a smile with the boy’s parents, Nick and Vicky Voulkoudis, who smiled back with watering eyes.
“He was a breath of fresh air. He loved life,” said Vicky Voulkoudis, the boy’s mother. “Whomever’s life he touched was deeply affected. He was a very special boy”
Father Nick Voulkoudis said he was most thankful for the help his family received in the months following the tragic accident and fought back tears to share his thoughts on the weekend fund-raiser. He said it would take about $8,000 to build the gazebo and garden at his son’s former school — a mark easily met, thanks to the overwhelming support.
“This community has been great to us. Everyone came out of nowhere,” he said. “It’s so great that they did that for us.”
Toufexis said the Greek community in northeast Queens came out in full force to show support for the Voulkoudis family, with borough eateries such as Oasis Cafe, Mythos Cuisine, Veranda Restaurant & Café and Tasty Grill donating food to the fund-raiser.
“Everyone really came together today,” said Louise Disponzio, mother of Toufexis and part-owner of Raggedy Ann’s. “We’re a family business and wanted to do whatever we could to help our friends.”
Looking ahead, Christos’ parents said they were looking to form their own foundation in their son’s honor to raise money for other children’s funds, such as Ronald McDonald House Charities and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Reach reporter Phil Corso by e-mail at pcorso@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
