Charity group offers gift of endowed education to three sisters who lost their parents one year ago December 15, 2004.

On Thursday Dec 15th, on behalf of the founders and directors of The TLOA Fund ( To Love One another), President/Founder James J. Solano, Jr. announced a gift from the late Friar Mychal Judge to three sisters who lost their parents in a tragic fire in Jackson Heights, Queens exactly one year ago. The TLOA Fund will provide full tuition for a Roman Catholic elementary and high school education for the three sisters who suffered third degree burns and other internal injuries.

Friar Brian Jordan, a fellow Franciscan and spriitual advisor to The TLOA Fund, held a special memorial Mass ceremony that was open to the public. In addition, Capt. Dan Mundy of Ladder 138 of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) who responded to the call with his company that fateful night, was also on hand to participate in the offering. This company has also performed a series of fundraisers for the family and remain very close with the family. Also, donations secured through previous press conferences at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi will also be given to the legal guardian of the three sisters, Reina Gomez, who is the sister of the deceased mother, Flor Pineda. The three Sandoval sisters are Naomi age 8, Alexandra age 5, and Carolina age 4.

The President/Founder of The TLOA Fund, James J. Solano, Jr was accompanied by fellow board member Christine Tormey and retired fireman Vincent Marino FDNY. This Charitable organization was recently formed and inspired by the ministry of the late Friar Mychal Judge, the beloved fire department chaplain who died in the World trade Center on Sept 11, 2001. Investment advisors, lawyers and other highly trained professionals have gathered to perpetuate the work and ministry of Friar Judge. Mr. Solano was on hand to explain the background of TLOA and the rationale for the tuition gift for all three sisters:

"Our ability to directly help the sisters in their hour of need was exactly the kind of thing the founders and the board had in mind when we set out to create this organization. It's a privelage for us to be here on this anniversary of this family's tragedy-- the girls have lost their parents at an early age and they need to know that they are loved and cared for. "

Posted December 17, 2005

[ Back To Top | Back To Grants ]