Fireworks fund-raiser serves as a memorial

SCOTT DAUGHERTY, Staff Writer

"I want my son's name to live on," said Sandy Lofgren Sargent, founder of the Rick Lofgren Memorial Foundation. Her son, Rick Lofgren, died Sept. 14, 2003 of a PCP overdose. He was 34.

About 350 family and friends attended the gala event July 9, watching professional fireworks from four waterfront yards in the 500 block of Bay View Point Drive.

"Rick loved the Fourth of July," Mrs. Sargent said, explaining the professional fireworks display.

Pyrotechnico of New Castle, Pa., set off fireworks for about 25 minutes at the end of her 230-foot South River pier.

"They were wonderful," said Mrs. Sargent. Last year, the display lasted only 15 minutes. "Each year we hope they get bigger."

While she had hoped to pull in $100,000 during the party, now in its second year, Mrs. Sargent said she was happy with how it turned out.

"I'm learning at this. I've never done this before," said Mrs. Sargent. "Done right I think we can get $150,000."

The foundation helps sponsor community projects for the elderly as well as the Good News Jail and Prison Ministries, a non-denominational Christian outreach program. She explained her son, a big-hearted man who called her daily, was devoted to his grandmother and liked to help the elderly and that Good News Prison Ministries help inmates rebuild their lives and get over drug additions.

"They are there to pick them up," she said. Her husband, Rick Sargent, is on the ministries' council.

The annual party is currently the foundation's only fundraiser. However, Mrs. Sargent hopes to to organize a dinner and dance and maybe another community event for children to take place during the day.

"I want the community to be really involved," she said.

Mr. Lofgren, who graduated from South River High School, worked with his mother and stepfather, Rick Sargent, as a home improvement contractor. Mrs. Sargent owns Sandra Lofgren Sargent and Associates, a realty company in Edgewater.