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On Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at 5pm the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce and members of the community will gather together in Morris J. Dimmick Park, 570 Durham Street, Hellertown to dedicate a special place to two very special girls who are missed by their community.
In light of the tragic loss of the Kaufman family sisters (Brianna Baer, age 15, and Abigail Kaufman, age 10) in a house fire on April 1, 2022, the community came together for three events in 2022 to raise money for a memorial in their honor in a series of events called “Funds for the Family,” organized by the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce, proud partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Proceeds from the events were collected to create a memorial in Morris J. Dimmick Park so the girls will be forever fondly remembered.
“The Chamber is not just a ‘Chamber of Commerce,’ but a ‘Chamber of Communities,’” said Jessica O’Donnell-Gower, Executive Vice President of Affiliated Chambers for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and liaison to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber. “When the news broke of this terrible tragedy, our board immediately sprung to action in planning these events. Our hope was to bring the community together in their memory and leave something behind to cherish Abigail and Brianna for years to come to celebrate their lives.”
In Spring of 2022, attendees enjoyed spaghetti and meatball dinners catered by Brooklyn’s Catering at the Carriage House (326 Main Street, Hellertown) and BBQ Dinners catered by Nick’s BBQ that was hosted at the So Wy Co Fire Company (1 Kenny Headman Lane, Bethlehem). Other outstanding members of the community including Frey’s Better Foods, Yianni’s Taverna, Limon, Black River Farms, Sam’s Club of Allentown, and Mid Hill Nursery all donated or held fundraising events to ensure this memorial would come together. The proceeds have been used to purchase a bench in their honor, a memorial plaque, and trees that will live on and create a special space in Morris J. Dimmick Park. These donors and each community member who participated have contributed to the beautiful space that will honor the lives of Abigail and Brianna.
A year later we have everything ready to dedicate a park bench, trees, and a memorial plaque in honor of the girls in Morris J. Dimmick park on May 2nd. We invite the entire community to come out for this Memorial Bench Dedication Ceremony.
Nicole Miles, Manager of the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber states, “This community is an example of how to be good neighbors. In good times and bad, this community supports each other. The fundraising participation and donations from each person are full of love and compassion. We are still missing the sisters; however, the light in the sorrow can be seen in the genuine care shone by this community. It will be an honor to dedicate the bench and come together for a ceremony in honor of Abigail and Brianna. We hope you will mark your calendars and attend.”
Interested in getting involved with or supporting the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber? Contact either Jessica O’Donnell-Gower at JessicaO@lehighvalleychamber.org or Nicole Miles at NicoleM@lehighvalleychamber.org or Kate Hartney at KateH@lehighvalleychamber.org for more information.
For more information on this event and any upcoming events, visit the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Facebook page, or the Affiliated Chamber’s Instagram or LinkedIn pages.
About the Chamber: The mission of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce is to improve the economy and quality of life in the Lehigh Valley Metropolitan Area. We accomplish this through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives and public policy advocacy, and community development enterprises. With nearly 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000, The Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and in the top ten nationwide.
Information provided to TVL by:
Nicole Miles
Manager of Affiliated Chambers
Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce
https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/
