Rotary Club "Half Way" Toward HDI Memorial Goal

The Rotary Club of Manchester's memorial picnic for victims and family members of the , held last weekend on the campus of Manchester Community College, put the club halfway toward its goal of establishing a permanent memorial for the victims. 

Clubs members said Wednesday that approximately 1,200 people attended the picnic, including nearly 250 motorcyclists who participated in a ride organized by Trantolo and Trantolo and TSI Harley Davidson/Buell in Ellington.

“When I think of the families and friends of our community who joined us (last weekend) to support this event, I am grateful, thankful and humbled. So to all of you, thank you so very much for sharing this experience and this day with our community," said Kate Simms, a Rotarian who helped organize the event. "If we touched just one life, we made a difference!”

Organizers had hoped to raise $100,000, with approximately $50,000 to $60,00 going toward the , but said Tuesday that they were now hoping to cover the cost of the memorial alone, and any extra would be donated to the victims' families fund. About $20,000 had been raised prior to the picnic, but some of those costs went toward last weekend's festivities. 

"At this point in time I would say with some confidence that we would like to raise another $40,000 before the end of July," said Rotarian David Skoczulek. "We feel this would cover the cost of the memorial construction and installation as well as any possible overruns related to decorative landscaping around the memorials. "

"We hope to have the landscaping, plant and bushes, benches, pavers, stone, gravel and stone dust donated but can’t be assured that 100 percent of the needed items will be,' Skoczulek continued. 

Donations to the Hartford Distributors Memorial Fund can be made through the group's website,  www.hdimemorial.com, or by calling (860) 268-9350.