File photo / provided
Shanna Cox
Updated: March 20, 2024
Lewiston plans memorial to honor mass shooting victims, teams with chamber on new fund
Photo / Courtesy Nick Turcotte
The city of Lewiston has teamed up with the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to launch the OneLewiston Resilience Fund to create a memorial to the Oct. 25 mass shooting victims.
In memory of the victims of October’s mass shooting in Lewiston, the city is teaming up with the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce to raise funds for support and to create a permanent memorial.
The new OneLewiston Resilience Fund is “dedicated to supporting the creation of a memorial and community unifying events to aid the city in moving forward from the tragic event that shook the entire community, state and country,” according to an announcement Monday.
The mass shooting, which killed 18 people and left 13 injured, was the deadliest in Maine’s history.
To kickstart fundraising, a special community event — the Healing Hearts Gala — is planned for the evening of Friday, March 29, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn.
"In the days following Oct. 25, the L/A business community was quick to respond to the emergent needs, with donations of food to first responders and hotels who weren't getting deliveries, to donations of time and money,” Shanna Cox, president and CEO of the Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, told Mainebiz.
“In that vein, the organizers of the Healing Hearts gala — all small business owners in the event industry — are contributing their time and talent to raise funds for the OneLewiston Resilience Funds,” she added.
“This is a testament to the heart and continued resilience of the business community, and we couldn't be more proud."
To guide the design and implementation of the memorial, the city and the chamber will establish a planning committee composed of victims' families, survivors, the deaf community, nonprofit partners, local businesses and representatives from the chamber and city.
Members will be announced at a later time as survivors focus their attention on hearings by an independent commission that's investigating the shooting.
"It will be hard to define this memorial, and it will not be done in haste,” said Lewiston City Administrator Heather Hunter. "The people of Lewiston are resilient, and we will make sure we do this right by those directly impacted by this horrific event by creating a meaningful, purposeful memorial and unifying community events."
More information
The Healing Hearts Gala is scheduled for Friday, March 29, at 6 p.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn, 14 Great Falls Plaza, Auburn. The event will feature live music, a silent auction, cash bar, appetizers and photo booth.
To purchase tickets or to make donations to the OneLewiston Resilience Fund, click here.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments