GoFundMe Established for Avielle Foundation in Newtown

NEWTOWN, CT — A West Coast angel investor has begun a fundraising campaign to benefit the Avielle Foundation, a violence-prevention charity founded by Jeremy Richman.

Richman was found dead in Newtown on Monday. Police initially judged the death an "apparent suicide," and that was later confirmed by the state medical examiner's office.

The neuropharmacologist founded the Foundation after his first-grade daughter Avielle was gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School just over six years ago.

The fundraising campaign was begun by Ron Conway, the founder and co-managing partner of SV Angel, a San Francisco-based angel investment firm. Conway kicked off the campaign with his own donation of $100,000. His other philanthropic activities include the UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Americans for Responsible Solutions, the THORN Foundation and Sandy Hook Promise, in Newtown.

The Avielle Foundation, which has offices in Newtown's Edmond Town Hall, released a statement which read in Part:

"Jeremy was deeply devoted to supporting research into brain abnormalities that are linked to abnormal behavior and to promoting brain health. Tragically, his death speaks to how insidious and formidable a challenge brain health can be and how critical it is for all of us to seek help for ourselves, our loved ones and anyone who we suspect may be in need.

"Jeremy’s mission will be carried on by the many who love him, including many who share the heartache and trauma that he has suffered since December 14, 2012. We are crushed to pieces, but this important work will continue, because, as Jeremy would say, we have to."

The GoFundMe campaign for the Avielle Foundation had $118,620 of donations out of a $300,000 goal posted as of Tuesday morning.

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