Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation Meetings Postponed

Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation representatives say two public hearings scheduled for May 7 and 8 -- hearings designed to allow public input on the fund's distribution process -- have been cancelled.

According to foundation officials, the board made the decision to allow for "a meeting between Board members and representatives of the Connecticut Attorney General’s office" to review the process that was used to determine the amount of their most recent announced distribution.

The foundation was established to handle the more than $11 million in donations to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund in the aftermath of the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

In April, they announced they would give $7.7 million to 40 families most affected by the shooting -- those of the 26 victims and 12 families of survivors.

The foundation did not announce rescheduled dates.

The United Way of Western Connecticut and Newtown Savings Bank organized the Sandy Hook School Support Fund in the wake of the shooting. In March, the United Way transferred all funds to the foundation, charged with deciding how to distribute the money.

The distribution committee, originally scheduled to head the public hearings, includes retired federal judge Alan Nevas, attorney Kenneth Feinberg, and Newtown residents Dr. John Woodall and Joe Smialowski.

In April, Nevas said he was "impressed" with the foundation's Board of Directors.

"Their talents in combination with the advice and counsel of a nationally respected expert like Ken Feinberg will no doubt be of great assistance to me, Dr. Woodall and Mr. Smialowski," he said in a statement released by the foundation at that time.