Dear friends,

Today marks one of the most challenging days of the year for me and sixteen other families. 

Six years ago, my daughter Gina Montalto was tragically taken from us in the 2018 Parkland shooting, along with sixteen other souls.

In response to this unimaginable loss, the victims’ families bonded together, and Stand with Parkland emerged. Out of our grief, we became voices for change, dedicated to addressing the scourge of school violence that has left scars all across our nation.

Our mission revolves around our efforts to push for change: by enhancing school safety, improving mental health screening and support programs, and encouraging responsible firearms ownership. We call this our triad of school safety. 

For an issue that impacts so many families and students, we knew that the key to making change happen is by working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. We talk to anyone and everyone in local, state or federal government who would listen: Republican, Democrat, Independent — anyone.  

We have become the most successful school violence prevention organizations because we believe that our uniquely inclusive, non-partisan approach is what will unite people toward meaningful progress.

And because of this non-partisan approach, we were able to help pass The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, establish SchoolSafety.gov., and most recently applaud President Biden’s Executive Order to establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. 

Despite these great strides, the road ahead is fraught with challenges. We continue to fight fcontinue to fight for safer schools, support our struggling mental health systems, and advocate for responsible firearm regulations. Each step forward is a painful reminder of the lives lost and the families forever shattered. We must not falter in our endeavor to make sure that what happened six years ago today will never happen again. 

To each of you receiving this message, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for helping to  honor the memory of Gina, her schoolmates, and teachers who were taken from us too soon, by supporting Stand with Parkland.

Thank you, and take care,

Tony Montalto, Stand With Parkland