Teenager Takes Initiative to Aid Victims’ Families

More than most, Chris Finefrock felt compelled to do something to help the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The teenager who recently lived in the Conejo Valley worked last summer as an intern at the Los Angeles office of Cantor Fitzgerald, an institutional bond trading firm that had extensive offices in the World Trade Center’s north tower. The firm lost about 700 of its 1,000 employees.

“When I first heard about the planes crashing, I had this surreal feeling. I thought everyone would be OK if they got to the top of the building and helicopters could rescue them,” said the 19-year-old, who had traveled to New York just weeks before the attacks to meet some of his East Coast colleagues.

With the Wall Street firm suffering such an incomprehensible loss, Finefrock, who worked as the regional manager’s personal assistant, went back to the Los Angeles office to help out after Sept. 11, before his morning classes at Loyola Marymount University and during school breaks.

“Being in the office, hearing these sad stories of the families, I just wanted to help fill that void in any way I could,” said Finefrock, who is completing his freshman year as a business major.

Upon hearing that the firm had set up the Cantor Fitzgerald Foundation to provide assistance to victims’ families, Finefrock asked his family and neighbors to contribute.

His idea was to place American flags for cars on the doorsteps of hundreds of residents in Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Agoura. Along with each flag he left a letter explaining his connection to the World Trade Center events and asked that a donation be made to the Cantor Fitzgerald Foundation.

Finefrock’s parents, Peggy and Gary, put up about $5,000 to buy the car flags at $7.50 each. In his letters, he requested only that the donation cover the price of the flag.

When he returned to the homes to collect the donations, Finefrock was overwhelmed.

“There were donations of $10, $20, $100 and $1,000. I have some very generous people in my community,” said Finefrock, adding that fewer than a dozen people declined to contribute.

When added to collections that his older twin brothers took up at their offices, the donations totaled more than $50,000.

“One day he walks into the office with checks--a whole lot of checks--and I really couldn’t believe it,” said Bill Rice, manager of Cantor Fitzgerald’s Los Angeles office. “A lot of people all over the country have made donations, but Chris’ situation is somewhat unique, because he had the gumption to do this at such a young age. He’s devoted, dedicated and a very innovative young man.”

Finefrock’s charitable spirit has not gone unrecognized. He’s in New York today to receive an award from the editors of Teen People magazine, who selected the former Lake Sherwood resident as one of “20 Teens Who Will Change the World.” This is the fourth year the magazine has done a nationwide search for teenagers who are making a difference.

Executive Editor Kristina Johnson said the magazine felt strongly that Sept. 11 needed to be addressed this year, and Finefrock, who now lives in Marina del Rey, filled that need.

“In Chris’ case, we were really looking for a World Trade Center focus. His connection to Cantor Fitzgerald is obvious, but it’s even nicer that he wasn’t from New York but still had that connection,” Johnson said.

Finefrock and the other 19 recipients will each receive scholarships worth $1,000 underwritten by cosmetics giant L’Oreal. The magazine provided transportation and accommodations for the teens and one guest each. Finefrock’s father accompanied him on the trip.

“There are so many negative stories about kids in the news. Our readers love stories about teens that are uplifting,” Johnson said.

While in New York, Finefrock plans to spend a couple of days helping out in Cantor Fitzgerald’s relocated offices in lower Manhattan.

“Chris is just amazing. He has a true level of interest, he understands the economics of the world, and on top of that he’s just a normal kid,” Rice said.