Hello everyone — Tony here.

Today is the 5th anniversary of Stand with Parkland’s founding. 

This day comes with a complex mix of emotions for me. It was a day when the Boardmembers of Stand with Parkland, along with Phil, Tom, Ryan, Debra and I — 5 people who had been strangers just months before — came together to make a promise to one another: 

No matter the pain it brought us to re-live our grief, we would do everything in our power to make other families safe from what we’ve had to endure. 

We faced a country deeply politicized and divided on every single issue, and school safety was no exception — existing debate on the topic was dominated by accusations and partisanship, and it wasn’t going anywhere. We knew that this wasn’t going to bring change, and that it wasn't how our loved ones would have wanted us to honor their lives.

So, we decided we’d do something different: we’d find solutions that would bring people together, and we’d talk to anyone and everyone in local, state or federal government who would listen: Republican, Democrat, Independent  —  anyone.

And as a result, we’ve taken historic steps forward: successfully advocating for The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, collaborating on creating SchoolSafety.gov, passing several pieces of legislation in the state of Florida, and more. 

This journey has not been without its challenges — in fact, challenges have been the norm. But when I think about how at just 14 years old, my daughter Gina could not only just talk to anyone, but connect with anyone, make them smile, and make them laugh, I am reminded that kindness, compassion, and unity are among the most powerful tools we have in this world.

To each of you reading this email, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for honoring the memory of Gina, her schoolmates, and teachers who were taken from their families too soon  by supporting Stand with Parkland.

And if you'd like to help us continue making as much progress as possible, you can follow this link to make a donation to support our advocacy efforts.

Support Our Work →

Thank you and take care, 

Tony Montalto

President, Stand with Parkland