Voices of September 11th co-founded by 9/11 family members and New Canaan residents, Mary Fetchet and Beverly Eckert, is dedicated to commemorating the lives of each of the nearly three-thousand victims who perished on 9/11 and provides information, resources and support to over 7,200 9/11 families, rescue workers and survivors.
Led by Mary Fetchet, a clinical social worker who lost her 24-year-old son Brad on 9/11, the organization advocates for public policy reform on prevention and preparedness related to terrorism on the local, state and federal level as well as building bridges internationally. Fetchet was recently appointed to a 17-member task force evaluating the current Homeland Security Advisory System.
The organization also provides information and ongoing support to 9/11 family members and survivors in the United States and abroad, with multiple offices in the tri-state area including Connecticut and New Jersey. Services include teleconference support groups facilitated by Voices' experienced and dedicated social workers as well as annual commemorative events including a September 10th Day of Remembrance.
In 2006, Voices launched the "VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial", an online interactive tribute that honors those who lost their lives and documents stories of survivors of the attacks on September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA. Voices staff conduct workshops around the country with family members and survivors to memorialize loved ones and preserve their stories for future generations. The living memorial is an extensive collection of meaningful tributes to over 800 of those who perished that includes photographs, written tributes and personal keepsakes contributed by families so the world will always remember the lives of those they lost. The memorial will expand to capture the caring and compassion that united our country.
Voices recently announced a partnership with the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. The VOICES 9/11 Living Memorial will be a core component of the exhibits at the museum to be built at Ground Zero.
Voices has strong ties to the New Canaan community and recently received a grant from the New Canaan Community Foundation that sponsors two local high school interns to work on the organization’s living memorial project. Founding Director Mary Fetchet and her husband, Frank, who serves as a volunteer with the organization, are long-time residents. Board Members who are also New Canaan residents include: Marvin Kabatznick, Chairman, Thomas P. O’Dea, Jr., Treasurer, Bonnie McEneaney and Jeff Blumenfeld. In addition, New Canaan resident, Debbie Westfal is Voices’ Director of Family Liaison.