Victim Funds

March 31, 2005 - 5:50am

The Montgomery County Reward Fund has surpassed $500,000. Montgomery Executive Douglas M. Duncan said any additional donations would be directed to the victims' families.

If you want to contribute, call 240-777-2500, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays. You can also give online, using Visa or MasterCard, at a Montgomery County Web site.

Separate funds are assisting or honoring several of the sniper's victims.

"Sonny's Kids," a fund to benefit needy youths, in memory of James L. "Sonny" Buchanan. C/o Sandy Spring Bank, P.O. Box 10666, Rockville, Md. 20849.

Sarah Ramos Memorial Fund, for Ramos's husband and young son. 14904 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 20905.

James D. Martin Educational Trust Fund, to benefit Martin's son. P.O. Box 10547, Silver Spring, Md. 20904.

The Lori Lewis Rivera Family Fund, c/o Temple Sinai Nursery School, 3100 Military Rd. NW, Washington, D.C. 20015.

A trust fund to support the education of Premkumar A. Walekar's two children. Checks should be made payable to Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, 7700 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 20912; mark donations "Walekar Trust Fund."

A fund for the 13-year-old boy shot outside Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie. Contributions should be sent to: "He's a Fighter Fund," c/o Riggs Bank, P.O. Box 96758, Washington, D.C. 20090-0560.

A fund to assist victims of breast cancer or violent crime, established by the family of FBI analyst Linda G. Franklin. Donations may be mailed to: Linda G. Franklin Memorial Fund, Mount Olivet United Methodist Church, 1500 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, Va., 22207.

A fund to assist the wife and six children of Kenneth Bridges. The Ken Bridges Memorial Fund, c/o Milligan & Co. CPAs, 105 N. 22nd St., Second Floor, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103.

National Capital Area Healing Fund, c/o United Way, 95 M St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024. Donations also can be made through the Web site www.unitedwaynca.org or SunTrust Bank branches in the Washington area.

Local 1994 Conrad Johnson Fund, 108 Olde Towne Avenue Suite 13, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877

The Dewberry Companies wishes to honor Dean Meyers' memory by establishing the Dean Meyers Memorial Fund at the Penn State College of Engineering. Dean attended and graduated from Penn State's College of Engineering and then worked as an engineer for just over 20 years.

The memorial fund could grow into an endowed scholarship fund if accumulated gifts to the Dean Meyers Memorial Fund reach $50,000 within a five-year period. Achieving endowed scholarship status would be an added honor to Dean.

The Dewberry Companies owners have graciously agreed to contribute at least $5,000 and to match all contributions to the Dean Meyers Memorial Fund up to $25,000.

Contributions should be mailed to: Richard G. Swails, Director of Development, College of Engineering, 101 Hammond Building, University Park, PA 16802. Checks should be made payable to: Penn State University. In your cover letter that you send with your check please indicate that you are contributing to the Dean Meyers Memorial Fund.

The Victims' Rights Foundation, Attention: Sniper Victims' Fund, 814 W. Diamond Ave., Suite 200, Gaithersburg, Md. 20878. For more information, contact Greg Wims 301-212-4141.
The group is hoping to raise $260,000 by Thanksgiving.

Metropolitan Police Department
Metropolitan Police Department's web site

Here are some resources for those who need help:

Guardian Angels
Guardian Angels

Montgomery County
Crisis Line: 240-777-4000
Tips for parents from Montgomery County Schools

Mental Health Association
Montgomery County Crisis Center

Prince George's County Red Cross
301-559-8500 ext. 19

CrisisLink
Crisis hotline serving D.C., Virginia and Maryland
703-527-4077
1-800-784-2433

Prince William County
Ideas on 'How to Talk to Kids'

Prince William County crisis hotline
703-792-4900

Community Resilience Project of Northern Virginia
1-866-400-2951
Community Resilience.com

D.C. Department of Mental Health
Mental health professionals are available to help children and adults cope with their concerns and problems. The professionals also can help callers determine whether they should seek mental health services or other assistance. The phone line is accessible in more than 100 languages.
1-888-7-WE-HELP.