Organizer of fundraiser has plans for nonprofit

Published 9:46 pm Thursday, October 19, 2017

ST. PAUL — The organizer of a fundraising campaign on behalf of a St. Paul elementary school cafeteria supervisor fatally shot by police has plans to make it a self-sustaining nonprofit to help feed children.

The Philando Feeds the Children campaign has already wiped out the $60,000 school lunch debt for the entire St. Paul school district with more than $80,000 raised. The online fundraiser in honor of Philando Castile had an original goal of $5,000 to pay the lunch debt at J.J. Hill Montessori Magnet where students affectionately called him as “Mr. Phil.”

Minnesota Public Radio News said organizer Pam Fergus would like to raise enough money to extend the lunch debt donations beyond St. Paul.

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Castile was killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in in Falcon Heights. His girlfriend live-streamed the aftermath with her cellphone.