A benefit in
Lacey’s memory

By Kathleen Smith
For the Times

Almost five months have passed since the tragic evening when 17-year-old Fishtown resident Lacey Gallagher lost her life, but her family and friends are doing everything they can to keep her memory alive. On Oct. 7, the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee will host its first beef ’n’ beer fund-raiser for a project that pays tribute to Gallagher.
The fund-raiser, at the Holy Name of Jesus parish hall at Gaul and Berks streets in Fishtown, is expected to provide money that will help one or more worthy students obtain a Catholic education. Gallagher died in a one-car accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Bucks County on April 28, the night of her senior prom.
The Little Flower High School student and six other teens were traveling to the Pocono Mountains for a post-prom party when their SUV hit a cement barrier, causing the vehicle to spin out of control. The teens suffered serious injuries; Gallagher, a passenger in the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her family and friends joined to undertake the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund by selling T-shirts, sweatshirts and drawstring bags.
Now, with the inaugural beef ’n’ beer benefit, the scholarship committee hopes to raise enough money to provide one or more scholarships to help students pay the cost of school tuition.
Though details of the scholarship process are still being worked out, Gallagher’s parents, Denise and Frank, have requested that the program have a link with the St. Therese Scholarship awarded by the staff at Little Flower.
Tickets for the fund-raising event are $25 each and include a hot and cold buffet, draft beer and music.
A Chinese auction also will be held, and the committee is accepting donations of items. Some ideas include sports memorabilia, sports or theater tickets, iPods, baskets of cheer and gift certificates.
"As you can see," said Matt McIntyre, a board member of the scholarship fund, "we will accept anything of value to auction off."
There are also sponsorships available, which can be purchased with a donation of $100. Sponsorship supporters will have their organization, business or company name, or their own name, prominently displayed during the event.
McIntyre and his board colleagues consider it important that the community turns out to support the cause.
"We would like people to attend this event to help keep the spirit and memory of Lacey alive while supporting a student with a Catholic education at the same time," he said. "The scholarship program is very important to the Gallagher family because Lacey was the recipient of several scholarships."
The scholarship fund, McIntyre says, "shows that Lacey is still giving even after her passing."
The event could potentially sell out quickly, which means there is no guarantee that tickets will be sold at the door. ••

How you can attend...

If you would like to attend the Oct. 7 fund-raiser, call Matt or Sharon McIntyre at 215-333-3104; Tim Booth at 215-423-9396; or MaryEllen Donahue at 215-806-7992.
To donate to the Chinese auction, call Bill Dolan at 215-783-7907 or Denise Dolan at 215-426-5641. For a sponsorship, call Bill Francisco at 215-370-2745 or Phil Bowdren at 267-254-2219.
The public is welcome to contribute to the scholarship fund. Please make checks payable to the Lacey Gallagher Memorial Scholarship Fund and mail to: Attn.: Matt McIntyre, 8130 Winthrop St., Philadelphia, PA 19136.
For more information, visit the Web site at www.laceyfund.org