by Joseph Zwilling and Mercedes Anderson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 18, 2019
From Saint Patrick’s to Notre Dame:
Fundraising Effort to Support Notre Dame Cathedral Launched
(New York, NY) – Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, was joined today by noted philanthropist Kenneth Langone, co-founder of Home Depot, Anne-Claire Legendre, Consul General of France, and other religious, business, and political leaders in announcing “From Saint Patrick’s to Notre Dame,” a fundraising effort to help support the restoration and rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, severely damaged by fire this week.
At a press conference in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to introduce the fundraising effort, Cardinal Dolan said, “Almost from the very first moments we heard the awful news that Notre Dame was ablaze, New Yorkers of all faiths, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, reached out to me to express their sorrow at the devastation and ask how they could help. Thankfully Ken Langone, in his typically generous way, called and said ‘We’ve got to do something. Count me in.’ And so today we are announcing From Saint Patrick’s to Notre Dame, a way for people from New York and around the country to contribute in helping rebuild this magnificent house of faith and monument to western civilization. I am especially grateful to my good friends, including the leaders of other faiths, who have joined in support of this noble effort.”
Ken Langone reflected on his role in the recent restoration and renovation of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral as being a motivating factor in his decision to help rebuild Notre Dame. He said, “As a leader of the effort to restore Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, I came to more fully understand how much this beautiful church meant not only to my fellow Catholics, but to all New Yorkers, as a spiritual refuge from the frantic pace of the city, a place of prayer and reflection, a home where all are welcome. Just as I can’t imagine New York City without Saint Pat’s, I can’t imagine Paris without Notre Dame, and want to do all that I can to help in this restoration effort.”
All donations to From Saint Patrick’s to Notre Dame will be sent to Archbishop Michel Aupetit, the Archbishop of Paris, to assist with the restoration of Notre Dame and its numerous historical relics and artistic treasures. Those who wish to support this effort can visit www.sptond.org to learn more and make a donation, or send a check to Saint Patrick’s to Notre Dame Fund, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022.