The Sandy Hook School Support Fund has received more than $6 million as of Jan. 3, according to the United Way of Western Connecticut, and the fund will be managed by members of the Newtown community.
The United Way and Newtown Savings Bank established the fund to support the Newtown community following the Sandy Hook School shooting tragedy.
“We continue to be so gratified by the outpouring of support that the Sandy Hook School Support Fund has received,” Kim Morgan, CEO of UWWC, said in a statement. “The needs facing Newtown will be many, diverse and ongoing. We hope that people will continue to support the Sandy Hook School Support Fund so that it can be a resource to help the community grieve, heal and rebuild.”
Morgan said the United Way believes “ it is critical that the needs and priorities of the fund be determined locally.”
Neither UWWC, nor Newtown Savings Bank, will take any percentage of the fund for administrative or any other purposes, according to the United Way, so that 100 percent of contributions will go to meet the needs of the Newtown community.
The Sandy Hook School Support Fund Transition Team has been created to create a charitable vehicle to
disburse the funds, which are intended to address short as well as long-term needs of individuals and of the Newtown community and reflect the input received from the Newtown community.
Will Rodgers, a Newtown Selectman, will serve as the chairman of the transition team and Patrick Kinney, a communications consultant to the United Way, will work with town residents MaryAnn Murtha and Robert Geckle.
In addition to the fund, the Newtown Volunteer Task Force has set up a toll-free number – 855-364-6600 –for people to call with offers of help to the community of Newtown. The phone line will be staffed by local Newtown volunteers and supported by United Way of Connecticut’s 2-1-1 Infoline.
To make a monetary contribution to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund, visit http://www.uwwesternct.org/.
You can also support the Sandy Hook School Support Fund with a $10 donation by texting NEWTOWN to 80888.
Donations can also be mailed to:
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT, 06470
In addition to making donations at any Newtown Savings Bank branch, four banks have also announced that customers can donate to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund at their branches, with 100 percent of the contribution going directly to the fund. The banks are:
- Bank of America
- Wells Fargo
- ChelseaGroton Bank
- Union Savings Bank
