Annual Fundraiser Celebrates Life of Sandy Hook Shooting Victim

NEW BRITAIN, CT — For the Marquez-Greene family, “Love Wins” is a message close to their hearts and they’ll be sharing it again at the sixth annual Dance for Ana with Love FUNdraiser this weekend. The event is to honor the life of Ana Grace Marquez-Greene who was killed during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012. She would have been 12 years-old this year.

Ana Grace’s family and the community didn’t want Ana to be remembered by how she died, but rather by how she lived, so they gather every year to celebrate her with dancing, music, food, and performances. Funds raised from the event are donated to The Ana Grace Project and the programs that help support its mission -- to promote love, community, and connection for every child and family.

Eversource is supportS the Ana Grace Project with employee volunteers helping out and a donation to the fundraiser.

“The Ana Grace Project is grateful to Eversource for its steadfast support of the community,” said Ana Grace’s mother Nelba Marquez-Greene. “An investment in our children is the best we could ever make.”

Throughout the day guests will enjoy an open dance party, a performance by the Ana Grace Academy, “Off the Wall” Zumba with Elsa, a parent-child dance off, face painting and touch-a-truck.

“Every year the community comes together for this event to celebrate Ana Grace and it’s such a passionate group of people,” said Eversource Community Relations Specialist Lynn Vasquez. “We’re committed to serving the neighborhoods where we work and live, and supporting this fundraiser is an amazing way to give back to the community. You can really see that love wins.”

The Dance for Ana with Love FUNdraiser will take place at the CREC Academy of Science and Innovation in New Britain from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. Proceeds will benefit the Ana Grace Project. For more information about the event and to donate, visit www.dfawlfund.org.