December 24, 2012 | Art Sorrentino, UConn Foundation

UConn Memorial Scholarship to Honor Victims of the Newtown School Shootings: Over $475,000 in Pledges to Date

Ways to support the Memorial Scholarship are outlined for those desiring to help.

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright participates in a moment of silence honoring those killed in a school shooting in Newtown, Conn., last Friday. The service was held before an NCAA college basketball game between Connecticut and Maryland Eastern Shore in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright participates in a moment of silence honoring those killed in a school shooting in Newtown, Conn., last Friday. The service was held before an NCAA college basketball game between Connecticut and Maryland Eastern Shore in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Dec. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Fred Beckham)

The University of Connecticut’s Sandy Hook School Memorial Scholarship Fund honoring those who died in the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn., has received donations and pledges totaling more than $475,000, with contributions still coming in.

More than 3,000 people from the U.S. and Canada have made donations to the fund to support college costs for siblings of those killed in the assault, the dependents of the adults who also lost their lives, and students currently enrolled at the elementary school, who are accepted to attend the University.

“The response has been incredibly heartwarming,” says UConn President Susan Herbst. “It shows that people’s natural response to such a terrible tragedy is to find some way to help, and the transformational gift of higher education is a meaningful and respectful way to accomplish that.”

Hundreds of donors have used the UConn Foundation’s text-to-give option, which lets contributors make $10 gifts with a simple text message over their cell phones. More than 2,200 people – students, parents, alumni, and others – have used the Foundation’s online giving site to make donations as large as $5,000, while others have collected contributions at holiday parties. One UConn alum donated $25,000, while more than $110,000 has been contributed by Hartford-area corporations.

How to Give:

Via text: Donors may contribute to the fund by texting 50555 with uconn newtown. University alumni should also add their name and graduation year. For example: uconn newtown John Smith 88. $10.00 donation to support the University of Connecticut Foundation through the mGive Foundation. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 50555 to STOP. Text HELP to 50555 for HELP. Full Terms and Privacy Policy: s.uconn.edu/txt.

Online giving page: You may make a gift on the secure online giving site, (http://www.friends.uconn.edu/sandyhook)

By mail: Mail your check to the UConn Foundation at 2390 Alumni Drive Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269-3206. Please note on your check that the gift is for the “Sandy Hook School Memorial Scholarship Fund.”

For more information, please go to www.foundation.uconn.edu/sandyhook.

About the UConn Foundation

The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc.’s mission is to solicit, receive, and administer gifts and financial resources from private sources for the benefit of all campuses and programs of the University of Connecticut. The Foundation operates exclusively to promote the educational, scientific, cultural, and recreational objectives of the University. For more information, please visit www.foundation.uconn.edu.