When Christopher Elser, a Hopkins junior and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) brother, was murdered in the SAE house in April 2004 in a break-in and robbery gone wrong, the need for remembrance dominated over the reactions.
The Christopher B. Elser Memorial Foundation was founded in 2007 by a group of Chris's close friends. Justine "Popi" Benisch, Cory Wingerter, Kristen Spoor and Kyra Appleby, members of the Hopkins Class of 2005, established the fund with the aim of preventing future tragic events in Baltimore, according to Benisch.
"Chris was a really outgoing person who everyone liked," Benisch said. The group conceived the memorial fund after asking, "What can we do so that this event [Chris's death] can change someone's life?"
The Elser Memorial partnered with the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF), an umbrella organization that "compromises more than 500 different charitable funds," according to a November 2008 press release.
The Memorial began its partnership with the Baltimore Community Foundation in 2007 with no funds at all. However, to date they have raised over $45,000.
According to Wingerter, the group raised over $25,000 at its New York City fundraiser last year, which was attended by approximately 250 friends and family members of Chris and his peers.
The group expects even more success this spring. This year's fundraiser will take place in New York City on May 9, 2009. According to Benisch, the fund had originally planned to hold another fundraiser in Fells Point, but they were unable to hold it this past year for economic reasons.
"Since we are benefitting Baltimore youth, it is important to have events in Baltimore, and we hope to bring that fundraiser back in 2010," Benisch said.
The two main focuses of the Elser Memorial Fund are the remembrance of Chris and the education of Baltimore youth.
These two seemingly incongruous goals have come together seamlessly over the past year and a half.
According to the 2008 BCF press release, "Appleby and Benisch created the fund not only to honor Chris's life and his joyful spirit, but to keep at-risk Baltimore youth off the tragic path followed by Chris's assailant."
"Instead of truancy, we hope these kids get more involved with their education so nothing like this happens again," Benisch said.
Wingerter seconded her statement.
"We are hoping that through our donations and activities we can draw more attention to the problems that youths face in Baltimore, and eventually find solutions to these problems," she said.
The Elser Memorial Fund gave its first grant in September 2008 to Learning, Inc., a community organization that "fits in perfectly with what we wanted to do," Benisch said. Learning, Inc., will probably be the recipient of another Elser Memorial Grant next year, according to Benisch.
Two other groups have been instrumental in the success of the Christopher Elser Memorial Fund.
One is the Elser family, which, Benisch said, is a "driving force" behind everything the organization does.
"The fund was started with the family in mind," Benisch said, "so they know we will never forget him."
"One of the main reasons we do this is to see the happiness that we can bring the family when they see all of Chris's friends getting together to remember him," Wingerter said.
The second instrumental group is Chris's fraternity, SAE.
"SAE has been very supportive, a ton of brothers have donated to the fund and it was something that brought everyone together," Benisch said.
This Saturday the fraternity is hosting its annual Paddy Murphy Party on the Levering Quad in remembrance of Chris.
According to Wingerter, "SAE is always very proactive and are eager to help in whatever way they can."
"They make up shirts [with Chris's name on the back] and give us some of the proceeds, along with asking for donations during their event."
The event also reminds Hopkins students to be safe and aware of their surroundings so further tragedies do not occur at Hopkins.
