Patrick Currier — In the Wayne Spotlight —
Paying It Forward
Wayne is much more than Everywhere USA... a place to work, shop and hang your hat. Why? Because Wayne people stick together and help one another. That's different, really different, especially today.
Just ask Kimberly Loveless. Hundreds of Wayne people recently stopped by the Community Center in a spontaneous expression of concern for her. "People really do care about one another here in Wayne," said Patrick Currier, owner of Papa Ramano's store on Michigan Ave. "When I heard what had happened to Kimberly, I knew we were going to do anything we could to help her.
“Someone robbed Kimberly’s business, the Acorn Shop, and in the process brutally stabbed her numerous times,” he
said. “That’s just not acceptable in Wayne. So, a group of citizens got together to show support for her. We wanted people to know that we take care of our own and that there is now a $7,500 reward for information leading to the conviction of the person who did this crime. We decided to do something and not to sit down and take a back seat.”
“Mayor Al Haidous, Mayor Pro Tem, Donna M. McEachern, City Manager, John Zech and several other community leaders played important roles in organizing an event to help Kim with her medical bills and put together a reward fund to help let people know that we mean business.”
The committee decided to provide refreshments for those who came to the event. Currier said he raised his hand, saying he’d be happy to supply the food and beverages. Little did he realize he’d be feeding more than 2,000 people, mostaccioli, salad, bread sticks and pizza.
“Everyone in our store was constantly making food for the event. We wanted to have something for everyone. It was non-stop at the Kimberly Loveless event.”
Without a doubt it was worth the effort. More than $20,000 was raised in the single event, which came together within five days from the first planning session to the actual event.
But the most important result was how the people of Wayne supported Kim.
“For the community to come together like it did in such as short time, astonished me. For the community to have done that is awesome.” said Currier. “I’ve been in retail for a long time and I’ve heard horror stories about being robbed. Crime happens everywhere.”
Pat Currier and his partner became the owners of the Michigan Ave. Papa Ramano's franchise store in August of 2007. Prior to that, he worked for Lear Automotive. When Lear eliminated their third shift operation, he and his partner and took the plunge into ownership of the store.
Just giving back to the community means everything to Pat. His Papa Ramano’s business received no compensation for providing the food and drink for the Kim Loveless event.
“I learned a lot of my values from my grandpa. He retired and his former company went through three people before his boss finally called him back, saying, ‘I’d love it fi you’d come back and train your replacement we haven’t found someone with your work ethic.’ Grandpa thought it over for a week and called his former boss back and said he’d help him out. Seven years later, he retired again.”
“It was something he liked to do and so he did it.”
Currier explained, “If you’re happy with what you do, it doesn’t matter how much you make. I get to work with people, help people and I get to eat. I can spend thousands of dollars getting a college education and become a doctor and earn it all back and do the exact same thing all over again. Or, I can do this. Everyone has to eat and in today’s society there are no home-cooked meals. This is what I like to do and I am in the most rewarding job for me.”
We’re happy Pat Currier is pleased with his work and with Wayne. We are proud to honor him for his outstanding service to his community and for the man he is. That is why Pat Currier is in the Wayne Spotlight.