But Smith says her organization is committed to making sure the survivors and families of the victims know that they cannot only access the fund, but they can also find culturally competent support as they process this tragedy.
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Equality Florida’s Pulse Victim Fund – https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund – had raised $4.3 million toward its goal of $5 million as of Wednesday morning.
Victims will get the money in about seven months, though Fernandez said the organization will attempt to deploy funds immediately for emergency situations.
By comparison, the Aurora Victim Relief Fund raised $5 million in total, contributions to the One Boston Fund for the Boston marathon massacre totaled almost $61 million, and more than $28 million was donated to organizations helping the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Ct.
“The first step is to push ahead the resources that are already available for victims and families – state and federal dollars, benefits, victims’ funds, hospitals, and so on”, said Calderon.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said Tuesday that her office was investigating some of the more than 100 GoFundMe campaigns dedicated to raising money for those affected by the massacre.
Dozens of individual gofundme.com accounts have also been created, including one for Felipe Marrero, who was shot four times in the back and arm.
GoFundMe, the popular six-year-old personal online fundraising platform that is home to most of these campaigns, is not new to allegations of fraud: They are unavoidable on a site that lets anyone raise money for just about any cause. Donations can be made through them here.
Though most of the gifts were far less than $1000, Cricket Wireless gave $25,000, and Executive Pride, an organization that promotes LGBT rights in the business community, posted a $30,000 contribution.
One of the earliest donors was singer-songwriter Jeffree Star, who gave $20,000.
Team officials said Saturday’s game is dedicated to the victims of the shootings and their families.
Most of the donations were for $1,000 or less. The mass shooting is the deadliest in USA history.
“The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming”.
Equality Florida is working with other organizations to coordinate vigils, counseling and blood donations.
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“Money came into Sandy Hook but it didn’t necessarily go to the victims and we really want to make sure that in Orlando that doesn’t happen because the needs will be there forever”, Marquez-Greene said. Equality Florida has a landing page with information about those services.
