Memorial Bridge Illumination Group Has Raised $55K

The Memorial Bridge Illumination Subcommittee officially launched their capital campaign to raise $200,000 to light up the new span in December and its members have raised $55,000 in pledges.

Now the group hopes to kick their fund-raising campaign into high gear by enlisting the support of large Seacoast area corporations. Jon DiGesu, a member of the Memorial Bridge Advisory Committee, is very confident they will reach their final goal by the end of the spring.

DiGesu said the $55,000 in pledges they have raised thus far have mostly come from Portsmouth area individuals and small businesses. He is convinced that when the group formally approaches larger companies, they will not be turned away because so many people in the region care so much about the new Memorial Bridge that is scheduled to be completed on July 6.

"So many people are just so excited about having an aesthetically lighted bridge," he said.

On Monday night, the Memorial Bridge Illumination Subcommittee and the Memorial Bridge Advisory Committee held another community fundraiser at Tulsi and Terra Cotta Pasta in Kittery, Maine, that featured a wine tasting and pasta bar. DiGesu said events like that one and the more recent fundraiser held at Flatbread Pizza Co. in Portsmouth give the capital campaign a way to spread more awareness about their effort in the community.

The subcommittee was previously working toward a goal of raising $80,000 until it learned from New Hampshire Department of Transportation officials in January that putting .