Donations Pour into Newtown, Connecticut
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DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images(NEWTOWN, Conn.) — As the final victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting were laid to rest on Saturday, the United Way of Western Connecticut reported receiving close to $3 million in donations since the tragedy devastated the Newtown community on Dec. 14.
CEO Kim Morgan said that the charity was “overwhelmed by the generosity of caring people from across the nation and around the world who are supporting the Newtown community.”
Morgan also made it clear “a structure that will manage and administer” the funds will be created to ensure that 100 percent of the $2.8 million in donations would go directly to the community affected by the loss of 20 children and six adults.
Since Sandy Hook Elementary may never reopen due to the shootings committed by 20-year-old gunman Adam Lanza, it’s possible the funds could go toward a new facility, although a separate foundation may be set up for that task.
Meanwhile, the parents, relatives and friends paid their final goodbyes Saturday to Josephine Gay, 7, and Ana Marquez-Greene, 6, who were buried in Connecticut, while a service was held for 6-year-old Emilie Parker in Utah.
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