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Donations for family of fallen Fort Myers officer exceed expectations
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Officer Andrew Widman's funeral
Scenes from the Wednesday, July 23, funeral of Fort Myers Police Officer Andy Widman.
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After days of passing their white donation buckets along the busy roads of Lee County, deputies stood at some of the same intersections Thursday carrying signs with a new message for drivers: “Thank You.”
Their gratitude comes as organizers of a fundraiser for the family of slain Fort Myers police officer Andrew Widman say they have exceeded their goal of raising $100,000. They will publicly release the total amount on Monday.
Lee County Lt. Matt Monahan called fundraising efforts a “complete success.”
“I expected we would meet (the goal),” Monahan said on Thursday. “I didn’t expect the outpouring to be as tremendous as it was.”
Monahan worked with Cape Coral detectives Tom Rall and Robert Wardrop to organize the five-day push, scheduling about 100 volunteer officers between the departments to stand at intersections and ask drivers for cash donations.
The drivers, in turn, were eager to donate.
Monahan said that after years of dealing with the darker side of society as a law enforcement officer, he was amazed by the generosity shown during the fundraiser.
“It really, really, really truly brought back a belief in humanity,” Monahan said.
“When we deal with people, it’s always a negative thing. So, to get this amount of a tremendous positive feedback from the community was almost overwhelming,” he added.
Meanwhile, other fundraising efforts across the area are continuing or, in a few cases, just getting started.
A push by national nonprofit Herocare to raise additional funds will likely continue for a few more weeks, said state Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, who oversees the fund that will eventually be given to Widman’s family. The fundraiser, which currently totals about $13,000, will continue making its way through Herocare’s national network of donators, he said, even as news surrounding Widman’s death recedes from the front pages.
“It’ll be out of public view here very quickly,” Saunders said of the officer’s death. “But the Widman family ... will need a lot of resources. There’s been a tremendous outpouring of support, and we want to continue in that effort.”
Herocare assists struggling families of law enforcement officers across the country. Saunders said he has spoken with Herocare founder Lane Houk about creating a permanent fund earmarked for emergencies such as Widman’s death, an effort he plans to continue after the Widman fund closes.
Houk also worked with the Florida Firecats, Southwest Florida’s arena football franchise, to set up a benefit for the officer’s family, Saunders said. Five dollars from every ticket sold for this Saturday’s home game against the Daytona Beach Thunderbirds will go to the family, Firecats officials said. Volunteers from Herocare will also be outside the arena to collect donations, Ticket Manager Michael Gluski added.
Gluski said the franchise wanted to do something after hearing of Widman’s death.
“There are only so many opportunities we have to do things for the community,” he said.
Gluski said the team has so far sold 35 tickets for Saturday’s game.
Also on Thursday, Florida Gulf Coast University president Wilson Bradshaw said he would send a letter to the Widman family expressing the university’s sympathies, as well as its commitment to Andrew Widman’s wife, Susanna, and their three children.
Under Florida law, Susanna and the children will receive a free education in any state or community college of their choosing. Bradshaw said his letter would promise that, should the benefit be repealed in the future — an unlikely event — FGCU will still waive tuition costs.
“We want to be very clear to her and her family that there will always be a place for them at FGCU,” Bradshaw said.
Comments
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That is wonderful news, good to see something positive come from a tragic incident. Again my condolences to Andy Widman's family for their loss.
#1 Posted by Jadip811 on July 24, 2008 at 9:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some dirty money makes it all better?
If the kids are to receive free Kollege, what's the $100,000 for?
Isn't that always the main fund-raising purpose, "For the kids' college indoctrination-ah, education?"
You know, because God forbid the kids do something with their lives like, say, become police officers, or woodworkers, or tennis coaches.
#2 Posted by ecoterror on July 25, 2008 at 7:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I cannot believe that someone would make such a negative comment about this young, torn apart family. Shameful and heartless.
#3 Posted by Typeone on July 25, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dirty Money..My God....how can you possibly try and pervert this public show of affection for this tragedy? How can you even begin to think that this donation money could somehow replace this husband, father and protector of the citizenry?
I hope the donations NEVER END...now amount will ever be enough.
You obviously have some real issues to work out before you die, and I hope you do because I am sure the Devil has special rooms in Hell for your type.
We can only hope that one day you will need another Andy Widman to help save your miserable, twisted life so you will realize the true value of an Amercan Law Enforcement Officer.
#4 Posted by Sheepdog on July 25, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo, sheepdog. I second everything you said to that "person?"
#5 Posted by anotherdummy on July 25, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please REMOVE ..#2...ecoterror
...for good
#6 Posted by CCProf28y on July 25, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God Bless the officers of this country who put their lives on the line every day. You are truly heros.
My prayers continue to be with the Widman family and any efforts to support them in their time of need.
#7 Posted by teachurkids on July 25, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I see all you self-important messiah complex law enforcement types out there can't comprehend what you read.
My comment wasn't intended to disrespect the dead officer or his family.
My point was: What if the kids don't want to go to Kollege? Can they use the money for other purposes? A sailboat trip? A house? To start a pizza business?
I heard on the TV news that the money was to go into a college fund.
I think that sucks. That was my point.
Judging by the posts above about Devils and Hell and Amurican Law Enforcement Officers (why capitalize all these words?) it doesn't take much smarts to become a cop.
#8 Posted by ecoterror on July 25, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I gave $10 this morning to some officers accepting donations at Publix on Neapolitan. I hope that my $10 is used in anyway they want. I think that when a donation is given it is to be used in anyway that will help the family along in life..be it college, paying the light bill or even starting a business. I don't even care if they buy a pair of Nikes with my money. Because their father isn't around to buy them that pair of sneakers, I'm more than happy to have my donation goes towards whatever they NEED or WANT.
I am in no way agreeing with your timing and wording of your comment eco, but I do understand what I think you tried to say. The money should be set up into a Trust for the family to use as needed for whatever they desire over the years. If FGCU is stepping up to provide an education for the family, then a college fund of that size is unnecessary. If they'd like to set aside a small amount of founds specifically to be used for college associated fees, then so be it. But I don't think the majority of donations should be associated for use for any one specific thing. Who are we to decide how this family should or should not use these donated funds.
#9 Posted by emmylopez on July 25, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks you to Florida Gulf Coast University president Wilson Bradshaw - what a thoughtful gesture to a fine and deserving family.
This widow and her children deserve EVERYTHING the get. No amount of money will replace the officer to his family. Anything that can be done to show Mrs. Widman the community's caring is wonderful. She comes from a strong and faith based family who will be there for her -and with no worry about money, all the better!
#10 Posted by BenG on July 25, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey you may be right it doesn't take smarters to be cops but it takes GOOD MAN, CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT! HONESTY AND CARE.
#11 Posted by kar255 on July 25, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
does any one know who to make the check out to?
#12 Posted by Bnboatn on July 25, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a poker run to raise money for the family of this hero this Sunday.
http://splittinthebreeze.com/EventCal...
I'll be attending and donating money, and I really don't care how the famiy spends it. No amount will ever make their lives whole. We all know it's to ease the pain and remove the worry of the future without a husband and a father.
Eco your middle name must be MASSENGILL and your heart made of vineger and water.
#13 Posted by dooley on July 25, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Eco...you idiot....try raising 3 kids for 18 years, paying for clothes, groceries, power, water, insurance, Dr. appointments, school supplies, shoes ETC....... This officer...you know what...you're not even worth any more of my time....
#14 Posted by semper2 on July 25, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just one more shot at this Eco-Moron...notice that I capitalized it, because he is a rather large one:
Things in life have a way of leveling...it may not be today, maybe not tomorrow-- but sometime, somewhere you are going to run head-first into a rude and abrupt reckoning for your deficient values. It's just bound to happen. The lesson is; Smarten up now wise-guy, while you have the chance. Good luck
#15 Posted by Sheepdog on July 25, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FGCU stepped up to the plate and offered scholarships for the children. Even if they decide not to go to college, the option is there and it will be worry free for this young greiving mother. I'm sure she would prefer to have her husband back than all the money in the world. This will ease her burden and allow her kids to grow up with out her worrying about their welfare.
#16 Posted by Typeone on July 25, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about the four thousand-plus soldiers killed in Iraq so thoughtless American suburbanites can secure enough cheap oil to pump around in mammoth SUVs while snacking on Wendy's and jamming to Snoop Dogg?
Are their offspring and families entitled to cash payments?
Should they get less money than cops killed in the line of duty shot by illegal criminals politicians have turned a blind eye to so their corporate pals can secure cheap slave labor for their nasty enterprises?
Should we base the payments on how much daddy was worth in real life, like the 9/11 victims' families who who argued that seven-figure salary hedge-fund managers' children should get more Red Cross guilt money than the children of firemen who rushed to certain death to save them?
We live in a very strange society indeed.
Why do we take care of one family and not the next?
Nevertheless, I'll donate $20 to the Widmans to avoid the negative Karma Sheep says I'm due. Is $20 enough?
#17 Posted by ecoterror on July 25, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gutta and eco....
your comments on this blog reak of someone with an axe to grind regarding law enforcement. perhaps you have been residents of the gray bar hotel a few times, and now this is your sick twisted way for your cowardly ass$s to disrespect the family of a man who gave his life to save another?
#18 Posted by yourmama on July 25, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, Gutta, your statement that all life is precious is in direct contradiction to what you said previously "everybody dies. Why are we still wasting time on this story?"
The point is that someone who was trying to make your community better was killed by someone who was making it worse. It really doesn't matter to me if he was a cop or not. I very regularly donate (usually anonymously) to anyone that I encounter who seems to be trying to make the world a better place. And I would include you in that group, and be happy to help you, should you need it and it came to my attention. It wouldn't matter to me what your race is, your country of origin, or how you dressed.
Isn't that what we're supposed to do?
So much anger.... all it does is eat away at your insides.
#19 Posted by lizzyb on July 25, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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