A fundraising effort to benefit the children of Tom Palermo, a bicyclist killed last weekend in Baltimore, has now passed its $50,000 goal.
The Palermo Children's Educational Trust was established and promoted on youcaring.com, with the original goal of raising $10,000. The goal was then re-set to $50,000, and as of Friday afternoon, has been re-set again to $75,000.
Palermo, a fixture in the Baltimore cycling community, died after being hit by a car in North Roland Park. The Baltimore County man was 41.
A software engineer at Johns Hopkins Hospital who also built and repaired bicycles, Palermo is survived by his wife of seven years, Rachel Rock Palermo, and their children, Sadie, 6, and Sam, 4.
The driver of the car has been identified by officials of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland as Bishop Suffragan Heather Elizabeth Cook, the second-ranking official in the diocese. Police are investigating; no charges have been filed.
On Thursday, the Baltimore bicycle advocacy group Bikemore helped organize a New Year's Day bike ride and vigil to remember Palermo. Bikemore board president Jed Weeks said that his organization has seen an uptick in donations and in membership renewals since Palermo's death.
The family planned to receive friends from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Ruck Towson Funeral Home, 1050 York Road. A memorial Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church, Ware Avenue in Towson.
Donations can also be sent to the trust fund care of Molloy Investment Group, One South St., 30th Floor, Baltimore, Md. 21202.