Digital Extra: The Station Fire

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, September 30, 2004

Beginning tomorrow the Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund, which has raised $3.27 million since the February 2003 fire in West Warwick, enters a final phase of operation: directing the final $510,000 toward two specific, long-term needs.

The remaining money will be used to assure continued coordination of social services for the fire victims for up to five years, and will also provide educational grants for the 156 children whose parents either died or were injured in the blaze.

The fund, which has been jointly administered by the United Way of Rhode Island and The Rhode Island Foundation, distributed about $2.76 million to the families of the 100 people who died and the more than 200 who were injured in the fire.

The money was used to pay for funerals, housing, emergency travel, food, clothing and a broad range of social services.

The Rev. John Holt, chairman of the fund's advisory council, said any contributions made after today will be directed toward the four-year educational grants the children will receive. The fund estimates each child could receive about $750 per year.

"Money alone cannot recover what was lost that night [of the fire], but we have been effective in distributing the dollars donated by generous Rhode Islanders," Holt said. "Future dollars are for the next generation."