Soldiers' Angels

WATERBURY All dolled-up in a black sequin dress, Army Reserve Sgt. Betsy Valentin was overwhelmed Friday at a fund-raiser for her held in New Opportunities Inc.'s auditorium. The "Save the House Fund Raiser," complete with disc jockey providing music and food prepared by family and friends, was attended by a small crowd of well-wishers — including one California woman who came bearing gifts and a $10,000 check. "Oh, my God. I can't believe it," Valentin said about the large donation. Heather Hastey, of San Diego, founded Taken Advantage Of last December to help empower people who have been victimized. Hastey, employed by Primary Mortgage in Mission Viego, Calif., said she was taken advantage of by a co-worker with whom she also was personally involved. Instead of paying an attorney to take the man to court to recover her $30,000 loss, she formed the organization. In addition to the check, Hastey brought 80 Easter baskets that her sister, Cindy Hastey, put together for the fund-raiser. The baskets were delivered courtesy of FedEx. Valentin is the soldier whose husband, Edward Valentin, reported she had died in an explosion while in Iraq last month. The military granted her an emergency two-week leave to straighten out her personal affairs. Three days after her arrival in Waterbury, she filed for divorce. "I can't believe the support I've been getting," said Valentin, who has been temporarily stationed at Fort Drum in New York, and will be return to duty in Iraq likely before the end of the month. Edward Valentin was arrested after police said he concocted the story that his wife was killed in the war. Shortly after he made bail, police arrested him again, on charges of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He was recently released on bail after more than three weeks in jail. He will return to court next month. He did not attend the event. Their children — Eddie Jr., 15; Justin, 13, and Kimberly, 12 — attended, as did as her sisters, Adela Jorge and Mary Anne Echevarria. Echevarria, with help from friends, prepared all of the food for the event organized by Michael Ferguson, Valentin's attorney. James Gatling, executive director of New Opportunities, donated use of the auditorium for the occasion, Ferguson said. Valentin said she has been consumed with tending to her children's emotional needs and spending time with them. "I've been doing the best with the time I've had with my children," she said. Proceeds from the fund-raiser, the $10,000 from Hastey's organization and donations to a fund set up at a local bank are nearing $18,000. Ferguson said the money will be used to pay overdue mortgage payments and bills that her husband did not pay. Bob O'Donoghue of Soldiers' Angels and a Watertown resident, presented Betsy Valentin with a check for $125. The group he belongs to "adopts" soldiers by sending them care packages and letters from home. Among those who attended to show their support were two Torrington residents, Leanne Fontana and Jessica Coury, who are journalism majors at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, and Fontana's sister, Elena Sileo. "I have been following the story in the newspaper," Sileo said. "I thought it was interesting because it was local. When I found out she was alive, I thought ?good.' So, how can we not come here for her." Army Reservist Clinton Parker, a drill instructor with battalion based in Waterbury, said Valentin has all the support of a "sister" in the armed forces. "All of the service men and women stand behind her," Parker said. "The Waterbury Connecticut Republican American Newspaper"