First Phase of Fund-Raising Complete for 9/11 Memorial

A fund for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center has reached a $350 million construction fundraising goal after a recent donation by the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, which lost 658 employees in the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Mayor Bloomberg, who took over as chairman of the September 11 Memorial & Museum in October 2006 and has donated at least $15 million to the project, announced yesterday at the quarterly board of directors meeting that more than $217 million toward the first phase of fund-raising had been raised in the past year and a half, including $10 million from Cantor Fitzgerald. More than 60,000 individuals contributed from 50 states and 31 countries.

The chairman and chief executive officer of Cantor Fitzgerald, Howard Lutnick, said in a statement: "We made a commitment to rebuild our firm after 9/11 to help the families of the 658 members of Cantor who were lost that day. In the spirit of the rebirth of Cantor, and to honor our colleagues and all those who lost their lives on that tragic day, we are privileged to provide this gift to help realize the dream of building our country's National 9/11 Memorial."

The top 15 donors accounted for more than $180 million, more than half of the $350 million raised for the first phase of fundraising.

"Our commitment doesn't stop with reaching this goal. We will ensure that the memorial and museum are completed, operated and maintained at a level that befits their importance," Mr. Bloomberg said.