Many Helped With Forget-Me-Not Fundraiser

To the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the citizens of Newtown for the overwhelming support of my 9/11 Forget-Me-Not Pennies Fundraiser. To date, I have raised more than $1,200 for the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. This donation has allowed a granite paver and two cobblestones to be placed in the memorial on behalf of Newtown, Conn. May the 9/11 victims always be remembered by the citizens of Newtown. When the memorial opens this September, Newtown citizens will be able to locate the paver and cobblestones they have sponsored through a kiosk located on the Memorial Plaza. The dedication on the kiosk will be “God Bless America – Newtown, CT.”

Especially, I want to thank the following for helping me implement my fundraiser:

Mrs Mary Maloney, principal of St Rose of Lima School for allowing me to leave collection cans in all of the school classrooms, announcing my fundraiser in the weekly school newsletters, and allowing FOX News to film at the school.

Mrs Eunice Laverty, Bagel Delight, for allowing me to leave a collection can in the store, as well as allowing FOX News to film in the store.

Ms Janet Woycik, director of C.H. Booth Library, for allowing me to leave a collection can in the library.

Miss Shannon Hicks, The Newtown Bee, for allowing me to leave a collection can in the office.

I would like to thank the following for their generous donations to my fundraiser:

Mr John Sansburn, Mr & Mrs Phil Palilla, Mr & Mrs Neal Cohane, and Mr & Mrs Amembal, who also contacted Ms Cathy Wojinski, Newtown Savings Bank, to count all the pennies and issue a bank check.

Also, I want to thank the following for supporting my fundraiser:

Miss Shannon Hicks, The Newtown Bee, whose keen reporter’s eyes saw my collection can and wrote wonderful articles about my cause. Miss Hicks was influential in spreading the word about my fundraiser.

Mr Michael Frazier, National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, who included my story on the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum blog.

Mrs Pat Llodra, first selectman, and Mr Jeff Capeci, chairman of the Legislative Council, who were interviewed for the FOX News segment.

Mr Shepard Smith and Mr Martin Finn, FOX News, who produced a news story and gave my Forget-Me-Not Pennies Fundraiser national attention.

My parents, Liz and Pat Briscoe, who encouraged my idea and helped me throughout the campaign.

My grandfather, Mr John McNulty, who was my inspiration in creating the Forget-Me-Not Penny Fundraiser.

To all of the anonymous donations I have received and any supporter I forgot to mention, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Our donation to the 9/11 Memorial will be for a place of remembrance, reflection, and learning for generations to come.

I will continue my fundraising efforts for this great cause and I will always accept penny donations. During the summer, I will be working on the “Signs of Support” for 9/11 in which business can hang 9/11 Support decals on their storefronts. Anyone interested in obtaining a decal, please feel free to contact me.

Your generosity is an example of the goodness of Newtown. I am very grateful to live in such a wonderful town.

God Bless American and Never Forget 9/11.

Patrick Briscoe

7 Purdy Station Road, Newtown                                June 13, 2011