Stadium Night Planned–

‘Hits For Harmon’ Pledges Top $2,700

A modest effort to help raise funds in memory of the late Newtown Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon has resulted in a windfall of pledges exceeding $2,700, virtually all raised by Mr Harmon’s former teammates on the Newtown Sandy Hook Vintage Base Ball Team. The pledges, once collected, will be equally divided between the American Heart Association Connecticut Chapter and the Harmon Family Fund, which is administered by Newtown Savings Bank.

The summer-long activity wrapped up September 2 with a final accounting of pledges and straight donations, and a drawing for Yankees baseball tickets and passes to a Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey game. The promotion, which involved either straight donations or pledges of a set amount for each run the vintage team scored this summer, brought in several hundred participants.

Several weeks ago, an interim drawing for another package of New York Yankees tickets was won by Waterbury vintage team player Scott Goodrich. This week, Alexander and Nathan Norwich of Sandy Hook took home the hockey game vouchers which were donated by Newtown Savings Bank after another winner who was chosen opted to pass the prize along.

Then, NSB employee Jamie Shpunt was drawn as the winner of a second set of Yankees tickets supplied by the Newtown Sandy Hook base ball squad. Robert Townes of the state American Heart Association office drew the winning participants, graciously acknowledging the team and the Harmon family for their support.

“We always say that research into the cure for heart disease may be just a dollar away from discovery. So it’s possible that the dollars raised by your “Hits for Harmon” campaign could help us realize an important advancement or even a cure,” Mr Townes remarked.

“We are also so grateful to the Harmon family for choosing to share their gifts with the Heart Association,” he added. “I know Kim’s three children played a role in deciding to donate additional Harmon Family Fund proceeds to us to help further research and outreach to families that have shared the tragedy they faced.”

Mr Harmon passed away December 15, 2007 after suffering a heart attack in his home.

Earlier this year, his teammates determined they would start a pledge campaign so anyone of any age could participate to help raise funds that would be split 50/50 between the Heart Association and the Harmon Fund. As the season closed out, the team had compiled 200 runs with pledges running between a penny and several dollars for each run scored.

The activity was presented in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, The Newtown Bee, the Newtown Parks & Recreation Department, and the American Heart Association. John Voket, Associate Editor at the newspaper and long time friend of Mr Harmon said the summertime promotion was the perfect compliment to the “Hearts for Harmon,” health fair and fund raiser held last March.

“We also saw the Newtown Road Race dedicated to Kim last weekend with his name on every shirt, and the high school soccer team is planning a Pack the Stadium Night in Memory of Kim, Saturday October 4 at  the Newtown versus Masuk game,” Mr Voket said.

“We all miss him, but it is inspiring to see how this very personal tragedy for Kim’s family has resulted in bringing the community together to honor him, to raise funds for his family and heart disease research, and to recognize all the work he did to make all these kids local sports celebrities over the years through his reporting and photos,” Mr Voket added.

According to Cheryl Clark, who is helping organize the Pack the Stadium night, the event is a chance for Newtown soccer fans and families to pay tribute to Mr Harmon, who was a longtime supporter —and fan — of Newtown High School soccer. Contributions collected that evening will be donated to the Harmon Family fund.

Earlier this spring, the school’s sports department dubbed its new costumed mascot the “Harmon Hawk,” in honor of the late sports editor. The next “Hearts for Harmon” health fair is also in preliminary planning stages, and is scheduled to take place in mid-February 2009.