As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, Newton's 9/11 Memorial Committee is on the move spreading word about the organization and raising money for the memorial construction.

This Saturday (August 27) the committee is holding a cookout fundraiser from noon - 3 p.m. at the Four Corners Whole Foods. All proceeds from hamburger and hot dog purchases will benefit the committee.

In addition, members of the Memorial Committee as well as local elected officials are heading over to NewTV studios this week to film a public service announcement to educate the community about the committee's cause and the memorial.

Virginia Gardner, the committee's chairman for fundraising, told Newton Patch yesterday the PSA will include familiar faces such as Mayor Setti Warren, State Sen. Cindy Creem, State Rep. Ruth Balser and State Rep. Kay Khan supporting the committee. Warren stopped by the studio today and the legislators will be filming throughout the week, Gardner said.

"[The PSA] will show Newton residents that from the mayor on up, they're all in favor of [the memorial]," Gardner said.

The memorial, which will honor Newton residents killed in the 9/11 attacks, will be funded entirely by donations. According to Gardner, Village Bank recently donated $1,000 to the committee.

Gardner said she hopes the PSA will air starting in September once NewTV staff finishes the editing process.

Last month, members of the committee and city officials selected a design for the memorial created by Newton resident Mark Sangiolo. Although a specific site has not been determined, the committee is working on constructing something near City Hall.

In addition to PSAs and gathering donations, the committee also recently received official 501(c)(3) non-profit status, according to committee member Anil Adyanthaya. The non-profit approval came on July 24 and was made retroactive to May 20, the day the committee formed.

The committee will be holding other fundraisers later this year, including a Sept. 14 book signing with Jessica Locke at the City Hall War Memorial auditorium. For more information, visit the committee's website and check Newton Patch's events page.