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URBANA, ILL. (AP) -- A University of Illinois student hopes to raise $50,000 for people affected by last week's shootings at a Connecticut elementary school and he's almost a quarter of the way to his goal.

Chris DeLetto set up a website seeking donations and so far has pledges of almost $12,000.

DeLetto told The News-Gazette newspaper in Champaign that he decided to raise the money because of he was shaken by the shootings. In all 28 people died.

DeLetto says some of the money will go to relief efforts already under way in the Newtown, Conn., area. The senior from Glenview also hopes some of the money can be used for a memorial and would like to buy small gifts for the 600 students at the school.

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