SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Friends and family of the late Gunnery Sergeant Thomas J. Sullivan came together to present scholarship money to Pope Francis Preparatory School and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Westover Air Reserve.

The gathering happened late Wednesday morning at Nathan Bill’s Bar & Restaurant in Springfield’s East Forest Park neighborhood.

Sullivan, a Springfield native, died while defending others during an attack on a Naval Reserve Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee back in 2015. To honor Sullivan’s heroics, his family along with help with the marines host a remembrance run.

The proceeds from the Gunnery Sgt. Thomas J. Sullivan Memorial Fund go to two of the most important things Sullivan cared about -- his schooling and the Marines.

“There’s a local Marine Reserve unit that helped originate this and found this road race that we do every year. We’ve done it for 10 years now. They come in big and support. They run the race. They do all the volunteer work or most of it. And so, we donate a portion of the proceeds to them every year So, 17 students received assistance this year as a result of our scholarship fund at Pope Francis,” said Joseph Sullivan, the co-over of Nathan Bill’s

The scholarships help families afford the private school tuition.

“About 50% of our students receive aid, which is very important. We have families who can’t afford the $13,000 tuition, and we need supporters like the Sullivan family to come up with those funds to help support those families that believe in Catholic education,” said Dan Fenton, the Advancement Officer at Pope Francis.

Springfield honored Sullivan in other ways too, the city named a park on South Branch Parkway after him in 2017. Pope Francis School named a front courtyard after the fallen local hero.

If you’re interested in volunteering or donating to the fund, check out the Nathan Bill’s Facebook page.

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