Building Legacy Out of Memory: 5/14 Memorial Foundation Fundraiser Launch

Some hosting opportunities are about keeping the energy high and moving the program along. Others require you to understand the weight of the moment.

I recently had the honor of serving as Mistress of Ceremonies for the 5/14 Memorial Foundation's Project BLOOM fundraising kickoff at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens.

BLOOM stands for Building Legacy Out of Memory.

5/14 Memorial Foundation Inc.: Through His Lens

That name says so much about the mission.

We will never forget May 14, 2022. We will never forget the ten lives taken, the three people injured, the survivors, the families forever changed or the East Buffalo community that continues to carry the weight of that day.

But one message stayed with me throughout the evening: Memory must also move us toward action.

Project BLOOM is about creating the 5/14 Living Memorial and Healing Center, a space where remembrance will exist alongside healing, education, community and hope.

The goal is ambitious: $25 million.

Approximately $11 million has already been raised through support from New York State, the City of Buffalo, foundations, corporate partners and other supporters. But reaching the full goal will require the community to step forward too. And what I appreciated about this campaign is that there is room for everyone.

5/14 Memorial Foundation: Through His Lens

You can give what you can. You can become a recurring donor. You can connect the Foundation with a corporate partner. You can share the mission. You can also purchase a $250 Legacy Brick that will become part of the Reflective Garden at the Living Memorial.

Standing inside the Botanical Gardens made the word BLOOM feel even more powerful.  A garden reminds us that something must be planted before it can grow. It requires care, patience, intention and community. The same is true here.

Buffalo is building something that will live beyond us, a place to remember, heal, learn and ensure future generations know the names and stories of those we lost.

I was grateful to lend my voice to the beginning of this next chapter. For more details visit https://www.514memorial.com/