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Prominent New York Company Chosen to Build "The Rising"
Tallix Foundry to build Westchester’s September 11th Memorial

At a news conference on May 17 at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla, County Executive Andy Spano announced that one of the country’s leading fine art foundries, Tallix Foundry Inc. of Beacon, has been selected to construct “The Rising,” an 80-foot-high steel structure honoring the 111 Westchester residents who died in the 9/11 tragedies.

Tallix created the Westchester Holocaust Memorial adjacent to the County Office Building in White Plains.

Spano also acknowledged and thanked the many donors and sponsors who have come forward to support the project. More than $155,000 has already been raised in individual and corporate donations, with another $40,000 pledged in in-kind services.

“Our partners in this project – our residents, our friends and our corporate neighbors – recognize the significance of this memorial, not only to the families who lost their loved ones, but to all those who live here in Westchester. I am grateful for their generosity and for their commitment to the memory of those who died on 9/11,” said Spano.

Spano announced that Houlihan-Parnes, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A. Inc., Verizon, Hudson Valley Bank and the White Plains Rotary were the first businesses to lend their support with donations totaling $40,000. The Louis R. Cappelli Foundation has pledged a major donation to support the project as well.

The County Executive especially thanked Cappelli subsidiary, the George A. Fuller Company Inc., which is providing the expertise of its senior vice president of construction, Joseph Anello, to serve as project manager for the memorial.

Spano noted that donations for the memorial are being accepted by the Friends of Westchester County Parks and that in addition to the monies it has collected for the memorial, the Friends has committed $100,000 of the funds it has raised for various parks initiatives to support this project.

The Turf and Landscape Association has also offered its assistance in providing the landscaping, irrigation and plant materials for the site, valued at more than $40,000.

Several Westchester media outlets – Cablevision of Westchester, The Westchester Business Journal, WHUD radio and The Journal News have pledged their support by running free advertisements to encourage donations.

The cost of the project is approximately $700,000. Spano has asked the Board of Legislators for an additional county contribution of $200,000 for a total county commitment of $350,000. Another $50,000 will come from a state grant obtained by former Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow.
Spano said that the additional funding needed to complete the project will be made up in private donations.

“We are off to a good start with our fundraising, but we can’t relax our efforts,” Spano said. “My goal is for this memorial to be built entirely by private donations. We need money to create an endowment for the maintenance of the memorial and the surrounding gardens, and to pay back the bonds.”

At Spano’s request, Jim Houlihan, managing partner of Houlihan-Parnes and a member of the Friends of Parks Board, will head-up the fundraising effort for the project.

“There is no question in my mind that Jim is the man for this job,” Spano said. “He is well-known and respected in the community and has a good track record for ‘beating the bushes’ for causes in the county.” Spano noted that Houlihan successfully raised $700,000 in private funds for the creation of the Great Hunger Memorial at the county park in Ardsley.

Spano outlined several other developments related to the 9/11 memorial project:

• Due to the nationwide shortage of steel, the memorial will only be partially completed on September 11, 2005. The base of the memorial with the granite stones that bear the names and birthdates of those who died with an inscription by their loved one will be dedicated this September. The structure itself will be completed and dedicated in spring 2006.

• As planned, there will be a ceremony this September. The program will feature an original orchestral musical composition which will be performed by the Westchester Philharmonic. Barbara Dunkel, who served as Chair of Westchester’s Millennium Committee, has volunteered her efforts to assist with the solicitation and selection of the musical piece. The selection will be announced later this month.

• The families of those who died on 9/11 and the press will be given an opportunity to tour the Tallix Foundry during the fabrication process.

• As part of the county’s effort to raise awareness and enlist community support for the project, a 6-minute video has been produced in-house by county staff, and is now available to groups, organizations and individuals upon request. Staff, volunteers and family members are available to make presentations as well.

All donations to the Friends of Parks September 11th fund are tax-deductible. All monies received will benefit the memorial.
For more information about the memorial or to make a contribution, log on to www.friendsofwestchesterparks.com or call 914-995-2951.