Candy sales honor dad
Toolbox
By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: June 3, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Adam Corcoran could have been bitter, but instead he's trying to share something sweet with the world.
In April, Corcoran founded the nonprofit Michael A. Corcoran Cancer Research and Scholarship Fund, which is named for his father. Michael Corcoran served three tours of duty with the 101st Airborne in Vietnam before a land mine left him seriously injured and sent him back home in 1969.
Upon his return, Corcoran served for three years as the Vermont Commander of Disabled Veterans of America and worked for 10 years at the VA in White River Junction. In 1994, Corcoran died of Agent Orange-related lung cancer, and since then his son has been looking to do something positive in his father's name.
Agent Orange was a toxic chemical substance heavily used by the United States during the Vietnam war.
"For the last 14 years since his passing, I've been thinking about a way to honor his memory," Adam Corcoran said.
The 33-year-old Post Mills resident purchased 230 coin-operated candy machines — the kind that dispense gum, hard candy or trail mix for a quarter — and he is looking to place them in area businesses.
He placed 110 of them immediately but is looking for another 120 locations. VFW and American Legion posts on both sides of the Connecticut River have welcomed the machines, Corcoran said, which are being stocked and maintained by veteran volunteers.
Corcoran said he hopes to offer scholarships to veterans or anyone who is a descendent of a veteran, as well as raise money to help the VA continue its cancer research. But before he can do that, Corcoran said, he needs not only locations for the candy machines but donations.
"I am begging and pleading for someone to come forward with a big donation so I can go out to local schools and hand out scholarship applications," he said.
Corcoran is about $35,000 in debt from the purchase of the machines, which he paid for with credit cards and personal loans from friends.
Corcoran is optimistic that if he can get the machines in place and pay back his initial investment, the candy will generate plenty of scholarship and cancer research revenue. If each machine makes four sales a day, together they will generate nearly $7,000 a month.
Corcoran will operate an information booth at the Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Fine Art, Craft & Music Festival June 19-21. For more information, visit www.michaelacorcoranscholarshipfund.com.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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