First 'Emily's Pink Sunset Over Kismet' anti-domestic violence fundraiser honors Emily Finn

In the shallow water off Fire Island's bay beach in Kismet, 10 friends and family members of Emily Finn sat on paddle boards and held hands to form a tight circle.

They each tossed a single pink rose into the water in memory of Finn, a West Sayville teen who was killed in November. Soon, dozens more roses flew into the water from those gathered on the beach wearing pink shirts to represent the newly formed Emily Finn Foundation.

The memorial "paddle out" helped kick off "Emily's Pink Sunset Over Kismet," the first official fundraiser for the nonprofit foundation. The daylong event Saturday featured a walk, raffles, music, a ballet performance, food and drinks and cheerful remembrance of the 18-year-old ballerina.

"Emily is a light," said her mother, Cliantha Miller-Finn, the president of the foundation, in a speech to more than 200 supporters at the restaurant Dive. "This is all Emily today. The strength that we draw from, she is giving that to us."

Finn died Nov. 26 when she was fatally shot. Her ex-boyfriend, Austin Lynch, has been charged with second-degree murder. Finn had visited him to return his belongings following a breakup, Newsday previously reported, when Lynch allegedly fired a single shot into the back of Finn's head.

Emily's family, including her father Ryan and brother Kyle, formed the foundation to remember her and also to raise awareness about domestic violence, educate young people on healthy versus unhealthy relationships and to advocate for ending gun violence.

Mary Wickman, the grandmother of Gabby Petito, supported Emily's family at the fundraiser as they share an unspeakable bond of losing a young loved one to domestic violence.

Petito, a Blue Point native, was 22 when she was killed by her fiance while on a cross-country road trip.

The Gabby Petito Foundation formed in her memory and to support domestic violence prevention, would like to partner with the Emily Finn Foundation, Wickman said.

"We are all seeking the same thing — save a life," she said.

Alyson Ryan, a clinical social worker whose daughter was a grade below Emily at Sayville High School, said she'll be joining the foundation's board of directors and believes her expertise can benefit the mission. She connected with Emily's mom through a music teacher who taught Emily at the high school.

"We realized that our missions and vision really aligned," Ryan said.

The Promise of Hope Foundation founder Michael VanDenburg presented Miller-Finn a $46,000 check for the Emily Finn Foundation. The foundation previously covered funeral expenses for the family, one of 29 funerals and wakes it supported last year, VanDenburg said.

"They have a tremendous spirit," he said of Finn's family in an interview. "They turned their pain into purpose."

Maya Truglio, 17, a rising senior at Bayport-Blue Point High School, met Emily through dance when she was about 10 years old. The two became close friends and often visited Kismet, where Tuglio's uncle, Frank Bragaglia, owns the restaurant Dive.

The teens worked together at Dive one summer as hosts and Tuglio remembered their time together for "beach days, sunsets and ice cream."

She said she looked forward now to helping girls her age and others through the foundation's work.

"And I know that's what she would want us to be doing right now," Tuglio said.