Videogame Club Founder Gives Back to East Haven

Zach Laudano graduated from East Haven High School in 2007, and as an adult in the community he felt the need to give back something to teens.

Zach contacted Bob Petrucelli, the town's youth coordinator, with the idea of the Videogame Club for the summer months at the Teen Center on Frontage Road.

After applying for a grant to the town which was approved to fund the game program, Petrucelli called Zach to let him know his wish was being fulfilled. will begin July 27, and continue every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. for the remainder of the summer.

“It’s a great place for teens to go, to have something to do and look forward to,” Zach said. “I feel that the kids who aren’t old enough to work a summer job shouldn’t just be staying at home, sitting around the house or hanging out around their neighborhoods everyday.”

Even before moving to East Haven in 2004, Zach was a "giver" to his West Haven community as an altar boy at Saint Donato’s. Zach has been giving to the community in East Haven and the surrounding area since then.

During his years at , he was in the video arts classes with former teacher Rob Becker, and began taking interest in helping to video school sporting events, productions put on by the drama club, and pep rallies. The school awarded him for "Outstanding School Service" and a"‘Media Service Award" for his contributions. 

Currently, Laudano serves as a volunteer at Leeway; a hospice facility for people with AIDS and other debilitating diseases that are terminal. He was recently awarded by Leeway residents and staff for “Going The Extra Mile” for his kindness, compassion and service to others.

“I care about people, especially those who are affected with illness. I think it goes back to when I was a little boy and I used to go with my grandmother to visit my great grandmother in the convalescent home where she lived before she passed away. My grandmother used to help take care of her, and I guess her kindness rubbed off on me,” Zach said.

Zach’s mom passed away in 2008, and he wanted to do something in her memory to help others.

“There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t miss my mom, and I know she’d be very proud of what I am doing," he said. "I think my fondest memory of her was her pride in me on the day I graduated from high school, and I’ll always hold that close in my heart. I live with my grandmother now, and we are very close.”

Laudano is a day student at Chapel Haven, a New Haven-based organization that teaches adults with cognitive and social disabilities independent living skills so they can live independent lives. Mentors are assigned to the students to help teach the skills they need to become independent.

Carlos Mercado is Zach’s mentor, and has been working with him for about a year now.

“When I was first assigned to Zach, he wasn’t doing all of the things he does now. I’ve seen him grow so much. The program is making him more goal oriented,” Mercado said. "For me, this is all about getting Zach ready for the future; making him more independent. I’m hard on him, but when he needs a break and some rewarding, we go fishing or hiking and sometimes to the beach and other members come along.”

Zach chimed in, and said with a smile, “Yeah, he is hard on me in a good way, because he cares.”

In his spare time, Laudano enjoys watching sports on TV, playing videogames and listening to music. His favorite music group is Ozzy Osborne and he also enjoys old school rap, especially by the artist DMX. He is an avid New York Yankees fan, too.

Zach also loves to read the newspapers to keep up on current events such as politics, religion and foreign affairs. “The news is a key to intelligence,” he said.