PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins are hosting a series of events to help the victims of the deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill.
The Penguins will hold a collection before Tuesday's game against the New York Islanders to benefit the families of the synagogue shooting victims.
Donations may be made as fans enter the gates, the team said in a release. A moment of silence will also be held before the game.
“The Pittsburgh Penguins join the greater Pittsburgh community in standing up against this senseless violence and supporting the victims and families of the Tree of Life Synagogue,” said David Morehouse, president and CEO of the team. “Under these circumstances, we determined it was not appropriate to continue with our annual Halloween theme on Tuesday, so those activities have been cancelled. The entire city has a heavy heart.”
The Penguins will hold a collection at Tuesday’s game to benefit victims and families of Saturday’s tragedy.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 28, 2018
The team has cancelled its annual Halloween-themed activities originally scheduled for that night.
Information: https://t.co/ouCrpDjcPt
The Penguins Foundation is also donating $25,000 to the Jewish Foundation of Greater Pittsburgh to help with any and all needs of the victims and survivors injured in the shooting.
An additional $25,000 is being used to establish a fund with the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety to assist the four police officers injured in Saturday’s tragic events.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families from the Tree of Life Synagogue and the brave police officers who stepped in to prevent more tragedy,” Dave Soltesz, president of the Penguins Foundation, said. “All of Pittsburgh is grieving with you and supports you.”
The Penguins also hosted a blood drive Monday at PPG Paints Arena, where Vitalant collected 254 units, enough to save or directly impact 762 local lives.
Organizers told Channel 11 that by Monday afternoon there was a 2-hour wait to donate, but that didn't stop some people from waiting to donate.
"We wanted to help out and we planned that it might take a while so we're here," said Scott Miller of Dormont.
There was also a moment of silence before the Pittsburgh Penguins game, which was against the Vancouver Canucks Saturday night.
The Vancouver Canucks just held a moment of silence before tonight’s matchup.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 28, 2018
We may be in Vancouver, but our hearts are always in Pittsburgh. 💛
The shooting Saturday morning left 11 people dead and others, including law enforcement, wounded.
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The 11 people killed have been identified as:
Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland
Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township
Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill
Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood
Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill
David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill
Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg
Sylvan Simon, 87, of Wilkinsburg
Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill
Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill
Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington
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Cox Media Group