The owner of a vandalized neighborhood Buddhist shrine in Sugar House says that well-wishers have provided the cash needed to repair the damage.
Ben Dieterle, a Zen Buddhist, said 110 people had responded to his GoFundMe site, contributing $3,005 as of early Thursday afternoon.
That’s $5 more than estimated for restoring the 300-pound Buddha head, which had been the focal point of the ornate, wooden front yard “Buddha on 9th” shrine at 1917 S. 900 East.
In a Facebook post, Dieterle thanked donors, promising that 100 percent of the funds will go toward replacing the head with one made of “vandalism-resistant materials and . . . new security features to deter future vandals.”
He also lauded those who have encouraged him since he found the statue’s face destroyed by a 25-pound rock last month — just six weeks after it had been ceremonially dedicated.
“I’m feeling a lot of gratitude,” Dieterle wrote, adding that the community response affirmed his initial purpose of opening the shrine, “to give everyone a moment to pause and reflect on the beauty that each of us are bringing to our world.”
Bob joined The Tribune staff in June 1998 after 18 years as an editor, reporter and sportswriter with The Associated Press. His assignments since have included online news reporting and editing, and coverage of religion, business, medical, fraud, crime and the courts.