Fundraising Committee Formed

"The Rising" Home

WESTCHESTER’S 9/11 MEMORIAL FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE FORMED
Committee sets a goal to raise $1 million for “The Rising”

As part of the effort to raise funds to complete the Westchester County September 11th Memorial and to create an endowment for ongoing maintenance, Westchester's 9/11 Memorial Fundraising Committee has been formed. It will be headed up by James J. Houlihan, partner of Houlihan-Parnes, who successfully raised $700,000 in private funds for the creation of the Great Hunger Memorial at the county’s V.E. Macy Park which is located in Ardsley and Irvington.

Called “The Rising,” the memorial will honor the Westchester residents who died in the tragedies of 9/11/2001. It is being constructed at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

“No one will ever forget the enormous and tragic loss of human life on September 11, 2001,” Houlihan said. “I cannot imagine a more appropriate tribute to those who died. I am honored to be a part of this effort.”

Houlihan said that more than $115,000 has already been raised in individual and corporate donations, with many thousands more dollars pledged in in-kind services. In addition, the Friends of Westchester County Parks, which is accepting donations for the memorial, has donated $100,000 to support the project. The county Board of Legislators has approved $350,000 in bonding to support the project, with another $50,000 coming from a state grant obtained by former Assemblywoman Naomi Matusow.

Houlihan said that while the cost of the project is approximately $700,000, the committee has set a goal to raise $1 million for the project. The additional funds would pay back a portion of the bonds issued by the county and would be used to create an endowment for ongoing maintenance. The additional monies raised would also help pay for signage at the memorial, special lighting and additional landscaping.

County Executive Andy Spano asked Houlihan to lead the fundraising effort, saying that he was well-known and respected in the community and because of his hard work and success in raising funds for the Great Hunger Memorial.

The committee includes leaders from Westchester’s business community and several of the Westchester families that lost relatives on September 11^th. In addition to Houlihan, the following people have volunteered to serve on the committee: Bill Mooney, president, Westchester County Association; Bob Cummins, president, Guardman Elevator; Ellen Lynch, senior vice president & managing director, Albert B. Ashford, Inc. /EastRidge Properties; Janet Langsam, executive director, Westchester Arts Council; Joe Armentano, CEO, Parco Gas;

Joe Simone, president, Simone Development; John McCarthy, president, McCarthy Associates; John Tolomer, senior vice president, Commerce Bank; Judy Matson, director of corporate contributions and community relations, Fuji Film USA; Juliette Brisman, Marianne Fitzpatrick, Mark Weingarten, partner, DelBello, Donnellan & Weingarten; Marsha Gordon, president & CEO, Business Council of Westchester; Mauro Romita, president & COO, Castle Oil; Rani Walz, Rosaleen O’Neil, Warren Lesser, principal, Halper-Stillman, Inc.; Kevin Keane, partner, O’Connor Davies Munns & Dobbins, LLC; and Ted Dacey, president, Electronic Land Services.

To continue to solicit widespread support from a number of different individuals, the committee is planning a grass roots campaign. Committee members are available to make presentations to any concerned civic groups, business associations or schools.

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