‘Night for Newtown’ will raise money for Sandy Hook children’s museum
- A woman is snapped outside the school on the day of the Sandy Hook massacre.
A group of young Newtown High School and Sandy Hook Elementary alumni organized “Night for Newtown at Fenway Park,” a fundraiser to build a children’s museum in their devastated hometown.
The eight members of Newtown in Boston, all in their mid-twenties, ended up in the the Hub after leaving the nest. They said they still have “very deep ties” to their hometown, and therefore banded together in the wake of last year’s mass shooting, which killed 20 kindergarteners and six adults.
“Love is louder than violence. We’re hoping to show Boston just how strong (Newtown) is,” said Laura Oggeri, a Newtown in Boston member. “It was hard for a lot of us who were no longer living in Newtown to see something this tragic happening to a community we all felt so close to. Before it happened, we’d go around Boston and no one had any idea where Newtown was, or even that it was in Connecticut. We wish we could go back to that time.”
About 700 people are expected at the Saturday night event, which is expected to raise as much at least $26,000 for EverWonder Children’s Museum.
About half of the museum will be dedicated to rotating, hands on exhibits that are designed to encourage children to “explore, learn and wonder.” The other half of the space will be used to for arts, science and peace education programing, according to a press release.
“We are extremely grateful for the support of Newtown in Boston and the entire Boston community,” said President of EverWonder Children’s Museum Kristin Chiriatti. “‘Night for Newtown’ to will raise money for Sandy Hook children’s museum meaningful programming and hand-on exhibits to the children of Newtown that are reflective of what our permanent museum will offer.”
Night for Newtown will include a silent auction as well as food, music and a visit from Governor Deval Patrick, Mayor Thomas Menino.
Oggeri said the event is near capacity: “The interest in Boston has been so great, that it’s grown into a huge event. Tickets went quickly.”
Follow Morgan Rousseau on Twitter: @MetroMorgan
Follow Metro Boston on Twitter: @MetroBOS
