The goal was to collect $26,000 dollars for a children’s museum in Newtown, Conn. -- but Saturday night’s fundraiser at Fenway Park raised more than three times that.
A Night for Newtown was hosted by eight Newtown High School graduates now living in Boston. Will Jacob said he and his fellow organizers were looking for a way to help their hometown heal in the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary.
“Everybody reached out to us who knew us and said how can we help out is there something we can do,” Jacob said. “And we didn’t have an answer, no one had an answer. So, for us, this has been a great way to say Boston hasn’t forgotten. We can remember Newtown in a more positive light by doing something nice that will last a very long time.”
A silent auction included a guitar signed by James Taylor – that sold for $1,700. Several dignitaries attended the event, including Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Tom Menino. Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray told the crowd she intends to sponsor a gun bill this year, and House Speaker Robert DeLeo said he hopes other states will follow the example set by Massachusetts.
“We’re going to send a message not only here in Massachusetts – but for other states around this country to follow the suit of Massachusetts and lets get some tough, strong gun laws on the books throughout this country,” DeLeo said.
The EverWonder Children’s Museum is set to open April 6 with the help of the funds raised Saturday night.
