WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — The “Be Amazing Fund” has been started to honor the victims of the March 22nd shooting rampage in the area. The idea was hatched from one of Anna Weiland’s teachers. Anna is the daughter of Det. Jason Weiland who was one of the victims.
Cheryl Goetsch, Anna’s teacher, tells WAOW Newsline 9 she was inspired by something that Anna said in her eulogy for her father.
“As an 11-year-old girl, (Anna Weiland) was, amazingly, able to write a eulogy for her dad’s funeral. In that eulogy, she made the statement that all of the amazing people in the world will always outnumber the criminals,” said Goetsch.
Executive Director of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, Jean Tehan, told Newsline 9 that the fund idea was met with open arms.
She said, “The “Be Amazing Fund” was met with 100% approval by all of our board members. We’re very excited about enriching the quality of life through the “Be Amazing Fund”. The beautiful part of this fund is that it will be reaching all ages.”
Goetsch says she hopes that this fund will somehow help turn the events of that day into something positive.
Goetsch says the fund began as an idea of writing letters to local war veterans and raising money for the Special Olympics. She says they’re not sure what the money will be used for now, but they have already begun receiving donations.