Sal’s dedication to the community has been the focal point of his life and to this day he continues to contribute to community charities and fundraiser’s. In 1983 a short time after his place SKATE FEVER was open, Sal along with some youths of the community, established The Macomb’s Youth Association. The Macomb’s Youth Association, was a day recreation center held right in the skating rink, to all children of the surrounding area. They set up historical, camping, and educational trips. They had numerous benefits to restore and rebuild the neighborhood, but Sal’s most proud achievement was the restoration of a city park and playground on 172nd street in the Bronx that was rundown and abandon for over seven years. That year Sal was awarded “The Bronx Citizen of the Year” award by Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon.
Abbatiello was never biased when it came to hiring his employees. He
has been known to employ people with little or no experience and most
of his were directly from within the community. At one time, in1983
he employed over 150 people making him one of the biggest employers in
the Bronx. Sal Abbatiello, a family man, and married since 1980 is the
proud father of 3 children and has been actively involved with charity
and community work since the late 1970’s.
In the early 1980s FEVER ENTERPRISES had raised over $75,000 for the
United Negro College Fund. In 1983 People Magazine, Time Magazine,
Rolling Stone, Village Voice, NBC, ABC, CBS and every other major
media news people, were telling the world how Disco Fever, Sal Abbatiello and Hip Hop music had influenced the birth of a new culture.
In 1984, Sal along with WBLS FM in New York, Coca-Cola, and his friend
Charles Stettler, promoted the first citywide rap show and talent
contest at Radio City Music Hall. All 6,000 seats were filled with
city wide urban kids and their parents, free of charged and Sal
Abbatiello participated as one of the judges. That evening the FAT
BOYS were discovered and won a recording contract. Incidentally, one
of the Fat Boy’s biggest hits, “Jail House Rap,” off their double
platinum album, was co- written by Sal. Also that year Sal helped put
together a city wide Break Dancing Against Graffiti Contest along with
WKTU in New York and the ABC network. It became a one hour TV special
on ABC with many major television personalities as judges including
Sal, himself. In 1984 Sal along with Kurtis Blow were Awarded Certificates of Merit by Mayor ED Koch for their efforts.
In 1985, “THE FEVER” was internationally known in accordance with the
lifestyle of Hop Hop music as a result of the great impact and new life
style that Hop Hop had on the world, Warner Brothers came to the South
Bronx and in 1985 the movie “Krush Groove” was released. The movie
being shot in the South Bronx, show cased “The Fever” as the place
where Hip Hop found its first home, Abbatiello a character in his own
personality, had his acting debut by playing himself in the movie. Sal
donated all the proceeds he received from the movie to the Bronx Special Olympics.
For 14 years he was a board member of the Hillcrest Lakers Community Club in Yonkers (1989 – 2004) and helped start its basketball program in 1994 with just 10 kids to over 600 at present. For years the club had to meet in peoples houses and various places. In 2003 with all the hard work, Hillcrest has its own new building and brand new regulation Little
League Field. Even though Sal’s children did not get the chance of playing on that field, many other lucky children will. Coaching Little League Baseball, Basketball and Soccer for the last 14 year’s (winning many city championships) has built a bonding relationship with his 2 boys and his daughter, but most of all it has brought the spirit of donating quality time, in your community, for the purpose of helping others. Sal’s time with his oldest boy Allie has paid off because he broke the all time Eastchester Basketball High School record in points scored,
He was also awarded All-State Honors in baseball.
He Received a 4 year Baseball Scholarship at Iona College in 2004. Mickey Abbatiello In 2008 broke his brothers scoring record at Eastchester H.S. making them the first 2 Athletes in the State to be the number 1 & 2 all time scorers at the same high school. Mickey led Westchester County In scoring and is attending Baruch College on a Basketball Scholarship.
In 2002 Sal started the Ed Ryan Memorial Scholarship Award which is an award given to a varsity high school player in memory of a neighbor who was a victim of the World Trade Center. The event, organized and sponsored by Eastchester resident and parent Sal Abbatiello, in association with the Eastchester Eagles Sports Club, is in memory of Ed Ryan, an Eastchester resident who died in the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept.11, 2001. Ed left behind his wife Diane and their four children.
The proceeds from the fundraiser are to be used for (3) scholarships each year, to be given to a varsity boy and girl basketball player and our 3rd annual Ray Sanchez Award given to one very Special Student Athlete. Any additional money are used to improve the athletic facilities at Eastchester High School. Proceeds from the first 9 events came to over $95,000. The money was used for improvements to the weight room, weight equipment, training bicycles and banners that are hanging in the gym. (A facility that can be used by all the athletes for training) and the installation of (2) beautiful Scoreboard’s on the Varsity Baseball and Softball field and (25) scholarships were awarded to Student Athletes.
On June 6th 2009 Sal Abbatiello established The Erika Roman Memorial Foundation benefiting Foster children. Sal helped raise and mentor Erika Roman who was a foster kid herself. Tragically, Erika Roman passed away in a car accident on May 1st, 2009. A memorial was held at Lehman High School’s auditorium honoring and celebrating her life with several hundred close friends and family. The foundation’s first fundraiser was held on June 1st, 2009; a Celebrity softball game that included Entertainers & local Club Owners, which was held in the Bronx , at Castle Hill Little League field. The ceremonial pitch was thrown out by The Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, JR who soon after presented Sal Abbatiello with a beautiful Citation (Certificate of Merit) for his efforts in being a respected and loved humanitarian.
The funds donated $8000 were used to build a recording studio for “The Children’s Aid Society” in the Bronx for foster children in Erika’s name. In 2010 they donated $7000 to the Red Cross for the Haiti disaster. On August 16th 2010 they had 2nd Annual Celebrity Softball game and have plans to be donating an internet radio station to “The Children’s Aid Society”. On June 13th 2011, they had the 1st Annual Vivian Rivera Blowing Event and Donated a check for $3000 to Justin Negron who is suffering with stage 4 cancer and $2500 to the Children’s Aid Society. On March 5th 2012, he held a skating for cancer benefit for kids at the Ice Hutch and raised $4000 to send children with cancer to “Happiness is Camping” in the summer. In 2013 we did our Annual Skating, Bowling and Softball events, donating all the proceeds to Children’s Aid Society & Happiness is Camping.
In the 80’s & 90’s Sal Abbatiello has been responsible for helping showcase and be a pioneer of two contrasting types of music (Hip Hop & Freestyle) which started in the Bronx and went world wide. He also help discover three of the most highly influential DJ’s of all time (Grand Master Flash — Little Louie Vega — Funk Master Flex)
UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND (1978-1985)
BRONX SPECIAL OLYMPICS (1985)
THE BOY’S SCOUTS OF NEW YORK
THE GIRL’S SCOUTS OF NEW YORK
MACOMBS ROAD YOUTH ASSOCIATION
NY STATE DEPARTMENT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES
WE CARE ABOUT NEW YORK
POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE
WINFIELD FOUNDATION
PEOPLE EDUCATING PEOPLE
BOARD OF EDUCATION
PARTNERS TEACHERS ASSOCIATION OF NYC
LOCAL COMMUNITY BOARDS
ASPIRA
MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY
STUDENTS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING
MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING
DRUG FREE AMERICA
NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NUMEROUS CONCERT BENEFITS FOR ARMED FORCES IN THE GULF & THEIR FAMILIES
FUNDRAISERS FOR THE HOMELESS
NUMEROUS AIDS BENEFITS
MANY BENEFIT CONCERT IN ASSOCIATION W/ HOT 97, WBLS, 98.7 KISS FM, WKTU, WPLJ
THE PUERTO RICAN EARTH QUAKE AID
THE SALVATION ARMY
ST. JUDES HOSPITAL
CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN FUND
WORLD VISION
WILLIAM TAFT HIGH SCHOOL
DAVIDSON COMMUNITY CENTER
CELL THERAPY RESEARCH
INSTITUTE OF BLIND & HEARING IMPAIRED
ED RYAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS (2001 – 2012 (27) AWARDS)
THE ERIKA ROMAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION (2009)
HAITI RELIEF FUNDRAISER (2009)
BREAST CANCER FUNDRAISER (2009)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2009 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)\
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2010 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)
BOWLING FOR CANCER 2011 (FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER VICTIMS)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2011 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)
SKATING FOR CANCER 2012 ( SENDING BRONX KIDS WITH CANCER TO SUMMER CAMP)\
BOWLING FOR CANCER 2012 (FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER VICTIMS)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2012 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)
SKATING FOR CANCER 2013 ( SENDING BRONX KIDS WITH CANCER TO SUMMER CAMP)
BOWLING FOR CANCER 2013 (FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER VICTIMS)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2013 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)
BOWLING FOR CANCER 2014 (FUNDRAISER FOR CANCER VICTIMS)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2014 (CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX
SKATING FOR CANCER 2014 ( SENDING BRONX KIDS WITH CANCER TO SUMMER CAMP)
BOWLING FOR CANCER 2015 (FUNDRAISER FOR KIDS WITH CANCER)
CELEBRITY SOFTBALL GAME FUNDRAISER 2015(CHILDREN’S AID SOCIETY BRONX)
SKATING FOR CANCER 2015 ( SENDING BRONX KIDS WITH CANCER TO SUMMER CAMP)
MAKING STRIDES FOR CANCER IN BRONX ORCHARD BEACH
Citation of Merit – 1983 (Received by Bronx Borough President Stanley Simon)
United Negro College Fund – Citizen Service Award -1983
Mayor Action Center Award – 1984 (Received by Mayor Ed Koch)
United States Marines – Certificate of Appreciation – 1985
Bronx Special Olympics – Recognition Award -1986
Certificate of Appreciation – 1991 (Received by Bronx Borough President Fernando Ferrer)
Eastchester Sports Club – Ed Ryan Memorial Fund – 2003
Hillcrest Lakers Community Club -Honoree for Community Service – 2006
Citation of Merit – 2009 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz)
Westchester County Board Of Legislators – Proclamation Of Sal Abbatiello Day 2010
Man of The Year – 2010 (Received by Senator Jeff Klein)
Outstanding Citizen Award – 2010 (Received by Assembly Member Amy Paulin)
Outstanding Community Work 2010 (Received by Assembly Member Nita Lowery)
Bronx Puerto Rican Day Parade – Godfather Of Freestyle Award 2012
Citation of Merit – 2013 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz)
Freestyle Honor Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
Jerome & Gun Hill BID – Music Legend Award 2014
Italian Bronx Heritage Award – 2015 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz)
Latin Mix – Lifetime Achievement Award – 2015
Certificate of Merit – 2015 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz JR.)
American Cancer Society – Making Strides Award Of Appreciation 2016
American Cancer Society – Relay For Life Award Of Appreciation 2016
Certificate of Appreciation – 2017 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz JR.)
Universal Hip Hop Museum – Bronx Icon Award 2017
State Of Connecticut – Connecticut Against Violence Participation Citation 2019
Elements Of Hip Hop Awards – Honoree 2020
Hip Hop Blvd – Excellence Award 2019
Bronx Music Heritage Center – Community Builder Award 2019
Certificate of Merit – 2020 (Received by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz JR.)