Thursday, May 01, 2008

Clinging to Community

Shane, Collin and Quinn Giongo will be the beneficiaries of Montgomery County's newest fund set up to aid children victimized by crime. "Guys, you have an education," promised Montco Sheriff John Durante at a celebration last night at Norristown's Holy Saviour Club.

More than 100 contributors' efforts helped bring the figure on the big check presented to the Giongo children by members of the Citizens Advisory Council last night to $106,332.30. Contributions ranged from change dropped into five-gallon buckets at the courthouse to corporate contributions in the multi-thousand dollar range. Among those on the dias at the Holy Saviour Club were Durante and major partners Mike Gretz, of Gretz Beer Co., George Gunning Jr., of Continental Bank, and Stan Huskey of The Times Herald. The Child Victims Fund, which aims to help children and families laid low by crime or disaster, will be administered by Huskey.

The Giongo boys have suffered the death of their mother, their father's arrest in connection with her death and a devastating house fire at their residence. The eldest, Collin, is a student at Kennedy-Kenrick High School and a student athlete. He was unable to attend the event because of a baseball game, but asked his brother Shane to represent the family and sent along written remarks for Shane to read. He called contributors "angels on Earth," and asked the question that's on many a Kenrick senior's mind: "Will this get me into Notre Dame?"

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