WCTFCU Establishes Fund To Honor Murdered Principal

WATERBURY, Conn. – Waterbury CT Teachers FCU is coordinating contributions for a memorial fund established to honor a credit union member, one of the victims of the Newtown tragedy.

On its website (https://www.wctfcu.com/Home.aspx) the credit union has posted an announcement about the Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung Memorial Fund. The CU explains that Hochsprung, principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School, “died tragically on December 14 while trying to protect her students from harm. Dawn was a dedicated teacher who inspired her students to reach their fullest potential. She was admired and respected by her students, colleagues and parents for her caring and nurturing nature and will be sorely missed.”

Hochsprung’s family established the fund in her memory. WCTTFCU explained donations can be mailed to the CU or brought into any branch.

“The family came to us and asked if we’d handle the contributions because they were getting so many requests,” said CEO George MacDonald, who noted that along with Hochsprung one of her daughters was a member of the credit union. “It’s too soon to say how much has been collected, but we have been getting calls from people, often teachers, as far away as Florida and Canada. Dawn’s family said they will use the funds for scholarships for students of Naugatuck High School (Naugatuck, Conn.), where Dawn graduated from.”

As the students and teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary prepare to begin school again next week at a facility in nearby Chalk Hill, the credit union plans to provide lunches for the teachers all next week. The $231-million CU also is collecting school supplies for students and classes.

“Here at the credit union we knew Dawn very well,” said MacDonald. “She was a wonderful person, and will be missed.”