Christmas tree in Island Park dedicated in memory of Sandy Hook victim

Every year, Island Park resident Cathi Hall sponsors two events in honor of Caroline Previdi, who was one of the 26 children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, 2012, in Newton, Conn.

After Hurricane Sandy, the New Jersey Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association decided to build and donate 26 parks to communities damaged in the storm, one park for each of the shooting victims. Island Park received a playground memorializing Caroline, which is at Masone Beach.

The Previdi family began a foundation in Caroline’s honor. Its goal is to support children in the Newtown and surrounding communities with the financial means to participate in extracurricular activities, including, but not limited to dance, art, music and sports. Every year, Hall hosts a fundraiser for the foundation. During the Christmas season, the Island Park Fire Department donates a tree, and Hall organizes a decoration party.

Hall was unable to host her fundraiser this year becasue of the coronavirus, however the Island Park Kiwanis Club decided to help. At this year’s tree decoration gathering, Kiwanis Club Secretary Barbra Rubin-Perry presented Hall with a check for $500.

Hall’s husband, Bob Hall, dug out the base and, with the help of the Fire Department, set up the tree.  Chris Hanson of Moo Burger provided hot chicken soup and Starbucks donated coffee.

To learn more about the foundation, visit carolineprevidifoundation.org.

Courtesy Island Park Kiwanis Club; compiled by Mike Smollins