A scholarship honoring murdered NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller raised a whopping $70,000 in its first official fundraiser Wednesday — and the steady flow of donations is far from slowing down.

As many as 500 loved ones, law enforcement veterans and generous partygoers gathered at the fallen cop’s favorite hangout, Wantaugh, L.I., to empty their pockets for the new fund, in a show of support that his description of a grieving widow as “meaningful and impactful”.

“What happened to Jonathan is horrible and it shows you the evil that exists in the world. But all the support and love showed me all the good in the world and how much love people have in their hearts,” Diller’s wife, Stephanie Diller, said at the fundraiser.

“Jonathan was the most generous person you could ever meet. He would give the shirt off his back to anyone and to see that their sacrifice would benefit others through this scholarship, to see it go to deserving students – he would have been very proud,” Stephanie said. “And I’m very proud.”

The event, held at Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall, was far from somber. Relatives, former classmates and law enforcement veterans focused on the legacy Diller left rather than his tragic death at the hands of career criminals earlier this year.

The three-year veteran of the department is remembered as a dedicated student during his time at St. Mary’s High School, as well as a remarkable athlete and team player who demonstrated altruism from an early age – and has long been on the path of righteousness. application.

In honor of his memory, the Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fund will benefit students at his alma mater who demonstrate the same academic and athletic drive.

“It was very energetic. Everyone was happy to be there,” Larry Weinberger, who organized the fundraiser, told the Post of the event. “It was a celebration of life, of Jonathan’s life – everyone seemed to be behind it, knowing that it would create this memory in perpetuity,”

Organizers ultimately hope to raise $100,000 for the scholarship fund — an “aggressive goal” that Weinberger said he hopes to achieve in the coming days.

Hundreds of donors who were unable to attend the event at Mulcahy’s Pub faithfully put money into the digital fundraiser.

This momentum means more than one student from Diller’s alma mater could benefit from a high school scholarship each year.

A year at the Catholic school in Manhasset, LI, costs nearly $13,860.

“We are filled with hope and optimism as the hundreds of donations continue to increase in number today, which will allow us to continue Jonathan’s charismatic leadership and enthusiasm to carry it forward into the future at his alma mater,” said Gerard Buckley, principal of Sainte-Marie.

The event itself was such a success that Weinberger plans to hold it every year.

“An annual celebration of Jonathan’s life would be a beautiful thing,” he said.

Organizers expect the scholarship to be ready for applications in the coming months and for the fund to begin benefiting students as early as the 2025-2026 academic year.

Diller was shot and killed in March after approaching two criminal suspects in a car parked at a bus stop in Queens.