Manzos and Lauritas Use “Autism Awareness” to Sell Blk and Draw Customers to Cafface; Is Blk “Giving Back” the Way Signature Apparel Was Supposed to Give Back to the Susan G. Komen Foundation?

The Manzos and Lauritas have no shame and are using autism to sell blk. On April 5, 2013, they teamed up with House of Sports to “to knock-out autism.” In addition to signage for blk prominently featured at the event, there were plenty of cases of blk stacked in the gymnasium with “generation rescue, hope for recovery” and “blk is giving back” printed on the bottles. Registrants at the event were required to make a $10 “donation.”

How is blk. “giving back,” as indicated on the bottle? Is Blk Beverages LLC giving back the same way the Laurita’s now bankrupt company, Signature Apparel LLC, was supposed to give back to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation? On June 22, 2010, the Komen foundation filed a “proof of claim” against Signature Apparel Group, LLC in the amount of $18,000 for failing to honor a marketing agreement. According to Faux Reality Entertainment:

“The marketing agreement stated that Signature Apparel was to pay the Susan G. Komen Foundation 10% of sales on certain shirts with pink logos and/or insignia for a guaranteed donation of $18,000. Signature Apparel failed to make the guaranteed payment to Susan G. Komen Foundation. In fact, what the Susan G. Komen Foundation did not know is that Signature Apparel was being stripped of all its assets; and less than two months after entering into the marketing agreement with the Komen Foundation, creditors asked the courts to stop Signature Apparel from defrauding further creditors.”

Albie Manzo ‏@AlbieManzo 3 Apr
Come join me and the rest of RHONJ @houseofsportsny this fri to Knockout Autism! $10 donation to register Call 914-479-5419 for details!
Retweeted by Chris Laurita

Joy ‏@JoyDeMello
The @houseofsportsny teaming up with @AlbieManzo @chris_manzo @chris_laurita @JacLaurita to raise Awareness for Autism was outstanding.
7:38 PM – 5 Apr 13

houseofsports ‏@houseofsportsny 5h
Amazing event at the house of sports with the real housewives of nj! Lets all wrk together to knock-out autism.

houseofsports ‏@houseofsportsny 8h
@blkbeverages and @AlbieManzo in the House!!!! @JacLaurita and cast in route!!! pic.twitter.com/gDWg2zaXub

Jacqueline Laurita ‏@JacLaurita 4 Apr
RHONJ will be there! XOXO! “@houseofsportsny: HUGE weekend at HoS! Starts 2morrow w/ Knockout Autism & C u there! pic.twitter.com/vrRtFJ8vgX“

houseofsports ‏@houseofsportsny 4 Apr
HUGE weekend at HoS! Starts 2morrow w/ Knockout Autism & @JacLaurita @melissagorga @AlbieManzo & Co. C u there! pic.twitter.com/3l4gd4VJuQ

Albie Manzo ‏@AlbieManzo 4 Apr
Crazy excited for tomorrow!!! @houseofsportsny team has been awesome to work with. Come help us raise money for @genrescue!!!!

juliusmichael ‏@JuliusMichael 4 Apr
Who’s coming out to meet #RHONJ & support autism awareness @houseofsportsny tomorrow at 6:00pm $10.00 donation @KathyWakile @melissagorga
Retweeted by houseofsports

Also under the guise of charity, Lauren Manzo is promoting the one year anniversary of her beauty bar, Cafface. Throughout April 2013, if you come into Cafface, Lauren will give you blue hair extensions for a $10 donation to support autism.

Jacqueline Laurita ‏@JacLaurita 30 Mar
I’m coming in today!! XOXO! “@Cafface: Autism Unites Us… Come to Cafface the whole month of April!!!

Cafface Beauty Bar ‏@Cafface 30 Mar
Come to Cafface the whole month of April to support Autism! Blue hair starts today!! #autismunitesus

Cafface Beauty Bar ‏@Cafface 30 Mar
you don’t have to make appointments for the blue hair! Just come on in

As for their son Nicholas, Chris Laurita says, “He keeps progressing, and then regressing, but he’s doing so well. We’re really happy with his progress. He’s a great little boy.” – People magazine, April 5, 2013

In the September 3, 2012, issue of People Magazine, Jacqueline announced that Nicholas is autistic, and she said that once he began to speak, Nicholas would always say, ‘I love you Mommy’ but, at 18 months, he stopped saying ‘I love you.’ She reiterated this at the season 4 reunion when Andy showed a montage of Nicholas as a perfectly normal child. The montage ended with a voice-over of Nicholas telling his mommy that he loves her, which, according to Jacqueline, he isn’t able to do anymore because he has ‘regressed’ and doesn’t really speak too much these days. Jacqueline was downright hysterical by the end of the segment — she sobbed (without tears) into her hands while Caroline Manzo consoled her, assuring her that Nicholas would be able to say those words to her again one day.

Jacqueline told Luxury Report Magazine (also published here) on December 1, 2012, that unlike last season, she is planning to address her son Nicholas’ autism diagnosis on the show this year:

“Obviously our son’s diagnosis is out in the open now. It’s nothing we were ever ashamed of; we only wanted to respect our child’s privacy, since we had not received an actual diagnosis yet. We wanted a diagnosis and a treatment plan in place first, so that people couldn’t speculate on what his issues were before we ourselves actually knew and got a handle on what it was ourselves. Taking care of our child’s needs is obviously a huge priority in our lives, so we would be addressing it on the show, however, it will be addressed with the intentions of bringing awareness to Autism, and to help people to understand and relate to the challenges that we go through as parents, as we works towards to recovering our child. I’m not comfortable, however, with making a spectacle out of my son, so I would hope that Bravo would be sensitive and respectful regarding how they present and expose him in front of the camera. I have faith that Bravo will be sensitive to the matter because they did respect our wishes last season and did not focus primarily on my son while he seemed to regressing and slipping away. Bravo respected that it was an extremely sensitive issue that our family was dealing with, and we are very grateful and appreciative of that.”

In an August 9, 2011 article (the same month Nicholas was diagnosed with autism) published by Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Patch (Manzo-Laurita Family Strikes Black Gold With Blk), Albie Manzo made claims that blk. helped an autistic child:

Manzo admits he was skeptical of the claims at first and he doesn’t quite understand the science, but the more he drinks it — he downs a bottle a day — and the more he hears from satisfied customers, the more he believes in blk. One case in particular, he told Patch, has really assured him of the product’s potential: A mother gave her autistic son blk. to drink, thinking its unique color might get him drinking more water. The boy not only drank it, he loved it, but the amazing part, he started behaving. The mother reached out to Albie, shocked, who sent her two more cases to try. Her son is stimming less and listening and following directions more. The difference, she told Manzo, is unbelievable.

 Related:

• Jacqueline Laurita Confirms She’ll Be Exploiting Another One of Her Kids for a Storyline in Season 5
• Blackwater and Autism — The Lauritas Use Autism as a Platform to Promote Blk; Jacqueline Admits She’s In It for the Money!
• Jacqueline Laurita’s Storyline for Season 5 Would Be Nicholas’ Autism; The Timing of Her Announcement Coincides with Contract Renewals, Season 4′s Explosive Ending and the Upcoming Reunion
• The Lauritas and Manzos Are Hoping Viewers Will Buy Blk ‘Out of Pity’ (They Say They’ve ‘Invested Everything’ in Blk)
• The Laurita Bankruptcy – Signature Apparel LLC Was Drained of Its Funds and Assets to Support the Laurita’s Opulent Lifestyle; Lauritas May Be Losing Their Home to Foreclosure

Gia Giudice Post Photos of Herself Hanging Out with the Gorga’s Kids; Melissa Gorga Only Attends Birthday Parties Taped by Bravo; RHONJ Cast Attends Nephcure Foundation Event; Melissa Tweets About Teresa and Family; Milania’s Real Birthday Party Was on February 2

Pictured above is the cast of RHONJ attending a Nephcure Foundation Charity Event (a Zumba class on Long Island) on February 22, 2013: only Teresa Giudice tweeted about the event, so it appears the others were there only because it was mandated by Bravo.

On February 23, 2013, Teresa tweeted a photo of her and her brother at the Milania Hair Care launch party, saying,

“With my brother Joey~ love him.”

Melissa replied with the following tweet:

@Teresa_Giudice love this! Loved spending a couple days together with the kids #muchneeded

After recent stories about Melissa’s alleged infidelity hit the print tabloids, the Giudices and Gorgas seem to have reunited, at least for the cameras. A source says that at her Milania Hair Care launch party, Teresa begged Penny Drossos to quash it with Melissa Gorga. And a few days later Gia Giudice posted photos (see below) of herself hanging out with the Gorga’s kids, Antonia, Gino and Joey – based on Gia’s outfit, these photos seem to be from the same day as the Nephcure Foundation charity event (see photo above) on February 22, 2013, an event attended by the RHONJ cast (attendance probably was mandated by Bravo).

Has Joe Gorga finally stepped up to support his sister? Does he believe the allegations about Melissa cheating on him? Are the Gorgas showing Teresa support simply to quell the rumors?

On January 11, 2013, Melissa attended Gia Giudice’s birthday party because it was taped by Bravo. Milania Giudice’s birthday celebration was on February 2, 2013, but Melissa did not attend because it wasn’t on Bravo’s shooting schedule.

Also, there were no tweets from Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga, Kathy Wakile or Rosie Pierri wishing Milania a happy birthday.

However, Melissa did tweet Victoria Wakile for her birthday on January 17, 2013:

“Happy birthday to the beautiful @VictoriaWakile & @richardwakile hope you enjoy your night together! Xoxox”

Futhermore, Melissa also did not attend her goddaughter Gabriella Giudice’s party held on October 4, 2012, during the hiatus in filming.

The following are all of the tweets dating back to March 5, 2012 from Melissa wishing her friends and family ‘Happy Birthday’ — she purposely excluded the Giudices:

RHONJ Season 5 Taping Has Begun — Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga Were Spotted at Elvira Grau’s Hurricane Sandy Fundraising Event at Space Odyssey

A fundraising event for Hurricane Sandy was held on November 30, 2012, at Space Odyssey, the same place where Teresa Giudice threw a joint birthday party for Gia and Milania in January 2012. The owner, Eliva Grau, is a friend of Teresa.

Elvira, along with the fundraising event’s co-host, Jennifer Dalton (from Bravo’s ‘Pregnant in Heels’), may be making more than one appearance during season 5 of RHONJ… rumors are circulating that one or both of them could be under contract as ‘friends’ of the housewives.

According to FW reader ‘Stay’:

“Jennifer was on Rosie Pope’s show [Rosie has her own Bravo link]. She is best friends with lil kim. Teresa was on that episode at Jennifer’s baby shower with Elvira, who was her party planner. Jennifer and her husband were also at Teresa’s Fabellini launch party.

Joe and Melissa Gorga, Richie and Kathy Wakile, and Kim D also attended the fundraising event, which seems to confirm rumors that RHONJ season 5 filming has begun.

After Dina Manzo’s departure from RHONJ in season 2, it was reported at EvilBeetGossip on June 20, 2010, that Elvira Grau, a Russian immigrant, was going to be the newest housewife. She made her first appearance during RHONJ season 2 episode 8, where she was the party planner for Teresa’s housewarming party (supposedly, she is known to have an impressive list of celebrity clients). According to the EvilBeet Gossip report, Elvira’s businesses (one being Space Odyssey, which she opened seven years ago) could be considered competition for the Manzo’s Brownstone, and this could be a source of contention for Caroline in season 5.

Lauren Manzo and Christopher Manzo attended the fundraiser at Space Odyssey with the rest of the cast while Jacqueline, Chris, Albie Manzo and Caroline were in California promoting blk.

“Tomorrow, BLK tasting at Walgreens on Sunset&Vine between 10am-12pm @chris_laurita @AlbieManzo @CarolineManzo @ashleeholmes” – Jacqueline Laurita, November 30, 2012, Twitter

Chris Stark (‏@stark3923) noted that Jacqueline missed photo ops for autism because she was totally unaware of a major autism fundraising event seven miles away from the Walgreens in California where she, Chris and Albie were promoting blk.

Here are the December 1, 2012 tweets about Jacqueline from Chris Stark (‏@stark3923):

Jac was in Calif she FAILED 2 attend stars support the Autism Speaks “Blue Tie – Blue Jean Ball” n Beverly Hills Thurs Nov 29 = FACT”

Jacqueline Laurita was unaware of HER Autism MAJOR Fundraiser last THUR even tho Jac was 7 miles away in a hotel shelping BLK Water !

TODAY Albie Manzo, Caroline Manzo Walgreens’ Grand Opening of 8000th store Hollywood Sunset & Vine PHOTO’S

while Caroline n Jac R in Cali 4BLK promo THE OTHERS WHERE HERE https://twitter.com/flygirljennifer NOTE: @PartyElvira and @flygirljennifer

Guidice, Wakile, Gorga, NEW PEEP Jennifer Dalton, Old “FRIEND” party planner Elvira Grau ALL @PARTY LAST NIGHT

Teresa Giudice Tweets Photos of Her Children Celebrating Thanksgiving with Family

Gorga Photo Opportunities — Charity or Publicity?; Joe and Melissa Appear on MTV’s ‘Restore The Shore’ for Another Photo Op (Updated 11/16/2012)

“I’m from Staten Island. As a citizen of Staten Island, I wanted to go in the trenches, get my hands dirty, anonymously. Me and my buddies having been going out door to door cleaning out houses that have been devastated. Staten Island has one of the highest — the highest casualty count — of the whole storm, and it’s in bad shape. So I had to do that for my home town, and also I’m trying to raise money for them as well.” – Vinnie Guadagnino, Jersey Shore Cast Member (please note that Vinny is getting his own MTV talk show, ‘The Show With Vinny’, where he’ll chat with guests from his Staten Island home)

On January 7, 2013, TVFishbowl reported that the Giudices threw their doors open to others without electricity and offered one of their rental properties to a family in need, even assisting with moving them in. And local police are rumored to have relied on the Giudices more than once for such services. However, Teresa never tweeted about it, and it remains to be seen if Bravo filmed it for season 5 as they did the ‘charitable efforts’ of the other cast members.

November 16, 2012 Update: Joe and Melissa Gorga worked the phones during MTV’s ‘Restore The Shore’ special which aired after the premiere of ‘Jersey Shore’ season 6 episode 9 at 10 PM EST on November 15, 2012. The hour-long special featured the cast of the Jersey Shore with other MTV reality stars making phone calls to thank donors. Other than the cast of the Jersey Shore (minus ‘The Situation’), only Joe and Melissa Gorga were mentioned by named and, of course, it was noted that they were members of the RHONJ cast–it appears that Bravo was behind the Gorgas appearance (probably because filming has begun for season 5) and the deal included a promotion of the show and mention of their names during the broadcast.

Here is the MTV report on what was overhead on the ‘Restore The Shore’ set:

Apparently, Uncle Nino is the life of the party at the phone bank. Travie McCoy of Gym Class Heroes was overheard yelling “DAMN, NINO!”… just a few minutes after Dylan O’Brien rang Nino’s wooden duck to tell him it sounds like farts. Yes, you read that correctly. Oh, and we hear that Roger smells really good. JWOWW, who was greeting callers with a “Hello, this is Pizza Hut!” is one lucky lady. Snooki’s also in the house with her fiance, but she took a break from snuggling with her boo to snap a photo for Instagram with Melissa Gorga from “Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The two chatted about Baby Lorenzo while Melissa’s husby Joe patted Jionni on the back. Guido bonding! On a more serious note, Deena was spotted comforting Danny as the package featuring the remnants of his Shore Store rolled. This night is a powerful mixture of melancholy and hope.

The photos above were tweeted around 12:45 AM EST on November 16, 2012. Melissa tweeted this about her MTV appearance:

“So happy to help & answers phones for @mtv tonight “Restore the Shore” live special at 11pm. Love helping my hometown. Tune in!”

The Gorgas and Manzos/Lauritas have been busy tweeting about their charitable efforts to help the victims of hurricane Sandy. Joe Gorga even had the audacity to tell his followers to ‘get off your asses!’ and ‘get out and do something to help’; he also asked them, ‘Did you donate yet?’ This coming from someone who owes workers for helping build his mansion to create the illusion of wealth so that Bravo would cast them on RHONJ.

Melissa’s sisters made sure their faces were in the photos of the Gorga’s charitable giving, even retweeting this lame praise directed at them:

“Shout out to Melissa Gorga, Joe Gorga, Lysa Simpson, Scottie Simpson, Kim Pirrella and T. Marie Marco for boxing up supplies.”

Teresa and Dina chose to give without fanfare and publicity. Teresa tweeted this response about her lack of tweets and photo ops to publicize her charity:

“Of course we are helping every which way we can too but I’m just not one to take pics of it. Sorry, not how I was raised xx (Matthew 6:1-3).”

Teresa also tweeted:

“Check out Renee Graziano! She has started a fund 2 help the victims of HURRICANE #SANDY. #mobwivessavinglives https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/eNfC0?psid=844416367ec64b64a1485097d507e3c3 …”

Dina also was harassed on Twitter, asked by a follower, “Did you help your sisters and sister in law collect and deliver for Sandy Relief’, to which she responded:

“I was busy quietly doing my own thing to help. #mindyourbusiness.”

Jacqueline could not keep quiet, of course, and tweeted this jab aimed at Teresa and Dina:

“Now is NOT the time2silently do good deeds4others,use ur Voice2encourage MANY 2join in.THATS how I was raised!ESPECIALLY if given a platform.”

Teresa’s father was/is in the hospital, so her primary focus is on him. She asked her fans to pray for him. Melissa and her busted posse have not mentioned one word about him on Twitter, and reports have surfaced saying Melissa has not visited him in the hospital.

Melissa tweeted that she visited her father-in-law at the hospital on November 4th.

Here is a photo of Teresa and her daughters celebrating their grandmother’s birthday with her and their grandfather:

In contrast, being the the ultimate famewhorgas, Melissa and Joe instead were busy with Voli vodka promotions and other photo opportunities, so they and their children did not do anything special for Joe’s mother on her birthday.

Ad hoc relief groups need to make sure they are taking in only items that are requested and can be distributed. Money is the best because organizations don’t have to pay to move it and can tailor spending to changing needs, said James McGowan, the associate director of partnerships at the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Transporting and distributing a simple donated can of food can be $15 to $25.

‘Disaster After the Disaster’: Unwanted Donations
By The Associated Press
November 10, 2012

Superstorm Sandy has brought out generosity far and wide in the biggest U.S. relief effort for the American Red Cross and other groups since Hurricane Katrina swamped the Gulf Coast in 2005.

Lauren Manzo Tweets to Stop Dropping Off Hurricane Sandy Donations to Her at Cafface; Manzo Boys Guest Bartend at Their Restaurant for Hurricane Relief (Updated 11/15/2012)

The Manzos and Lauritas took advantage of hurricane Sandy to promote themselves and their businesses on Twitter. Here was their basic message:

1. Drop off your donations to Cafface.

2. We will deliver them to donation sites using our blkwater van.

On November 2nd and 3rd, Lauren Manzo and her family were busy tweeting that everyone should bring their donations to Cafface and that they would deliver them to shelters using their blkwater van:

“We are collecting things @ my store to bring to shelters! Using our twitter flwrs to spread the word! My stores in Franklin lks ” – Lauren Manzo, November 3, 2012, Twitter

“Feeling so lucky to own a public store that my fam & I can use to take donations and get them where they have to be! Thank u all for ur help!” – Lauren Manzo, November 3, 2012, Twitter

In particular, Jacqueline Laurita tweeted:

“Let’s all pull together 2day&bring as much supplies 2 Cafface in Franklin Lakes so that we can donate2those in need! Team Blk will deliver!” – Jacqueline Laurita, November 3, 2012, Twitter

And they were still tweeting on November 3rd that people should drop off their donations again to Cafface the next day, on November 4th, but on November 4th Lauren tweeted:

“Shelters arent accepting anymore clothes but if I were u Id send them to Red Cross or a shelter – please don’t send to cafface.” – Lauren Manzo, November 4, 2012, Twitter

By November 9th, they were telling people to stop dropping off donations to Lauren’s store Cafface:

“Please DO NOT send donations to Cafface! We really appreciate it but it makes more sense to send donations directly to those who need!!!!” – Lauren Manzo, November 9, 2012, Twitter

They tweeted photos of themselves helping out and made sure to promote their brands in the process.

In another example of self-promoting while “helping” out for Hurricane Sandy relief, the Manzo boys mentioned their bar that isn’t even open yet multiple times in the advertisement below (Bravo certainly will be there with cameras to film the event!):

Lauren Manzo’s tweets:

Jacqueline Laurita’s tweets: