Memorial Fund Established for Malvrick Donkor

A memorial fund has been established to aid the family of the 14-year old freshmen who drowned in the Manchester High School pool earlier this year. 

According to a letter from Manchester High Principal Matthew Geary posted to the MHS Redline website, the Northeast Family Federal Credit Union has established a collection fund in Donkor's name and it is available for donations. Geary said that people and groups can donate to the fund and the credit union will record their names and addresses to pass on to Donkor's family, but donations can also be made anonymously if people wish. Donations can be dropped off at any branch of the Northeast Family Credit Union - checks should be made out to Northeast Family FCU with a notation for "M Donkor" - or mailed to Manchester High School, but Geary said checks mailed to the high school should be addressed to his attention. 

Manchester High has also arranged for a memorial service for Donkor, to be held Saturday evening, Dec. 15 in the school's auditorium. 

"On behalf of the faculty, staff, and students of Manchester High School, I wish to express our deep appreciation to both the Manchester community as well as various school systems across the state that have all been tremendously supportive during this most difficult time," Geary wrote in his letter. "Though his life was short, the tremendous outpouring of love and support demonstrate that Malvrick’s warm smile and energetic spirit had a significant impact on the entire community." 

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An investigation into Donkor's death involving the Manchester Police Department and the State Department of Public Health is ongoing, and Geary said that the high school is cooperating with the investigations "to ensure that both groups have all of the information they need to conduct a thorough investigation."

The teacher instructing the swimming class in which Donkor is reported to have drowned, Thayer Redman, who also coaches the outdoor boys track team at the high school and was the 2012 Connecticut Sports Writers' Alliance High School Coach of the Year, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the investigation.