After Much Good, 'My Three Sons' Charity Closes

My Three Sons, the Holmdel-based charity that rallied around a Tom Nolan's family after his death from leukemia, officially closed after a six-year run, on Dec. 1.

The group took its name in 2006 from the tattoo Nolan wore on his arm, in honor of his boys.

My Three Sons organizer Timothy McDonnell said that the group had met its goal -- to support college education funds for the Nolan boys. At its peak, more than 100 Holmdel families participated in a half dozen fundraising dinners at the PNC Art Center, or gave monetary donations, or attended golf outings, or bought the group's t-shirts. Over $150,000 was raised. The last event in May was attended by 250 people.

"I think everybody walked away feeling good about the results," said McDonnell.

The oldest Nolan boy, Tom, is in college, and Ryan and Mike are in Holmdel High School.

McDonnell had come to know Nolan, a father of boys his own sons' ages, through the Holmdel Youth Athletic Association.

Already shaken by the loss of friends who died in the World Trade Center terrorist attack, Nolan, a broker working in Manhattan, felt inspired to channel his efforts to help the Holmdel family.

"When Tom got sick I knew they were going to have financial issues, so we started having meetings. Ten people brought ten people, and those ten people brought ten more people," he said. It took off and people were motivated to help "a great family," he said.

During its operation, the group took an interest in a Long Branch coach's church parish. "We felt that everyone had been so kind to us that we needed to reach out to someone," said McDonnell. The group donated turkey dinners and toys to the McGlaughlin Pentecostal Church, and plans to continue to do so in a less formal way. A collection is taken at Tim and Clare McDonnell's house at the annual Christmas party.

Two $500 scholarships named in honor of Tom Nolan will be offered each year, for the next four years to a Holmdel High School graduate, McDonnell said.