A $31.5million victims’ fund that started as a GoFundMe effort announced plans Friday to pay $275,000 to the families of each of the 58 people killed in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
The Las Vegas Victims Fund said the maximum $275,000 also will be paid to 10 other people who were paralyzed or suffered permanent brain damage in the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas Strip.
The full $31.5million will be distributed among the injured and families of the dead, the group said.
The nonprofit posted a chart projecting payments on a scale to a total of 532 people, including more than $10million divided among 147 people who were hospitalized.
The funeral for Las Vegas police Officer Charleston Hartfield, killed while off-duty in the October 1 shooting, is seen. The families of the slain are set to receive payouts
The fund published this payment scale showing how much each category of victim will get
The fund includes millions of dollars in corporate donations and tens of thousands of individual donations that ranged in size from $1 to $400,000.
‘The love and support shown for the families and survivors of the 1 October tragedy was tremendous,’ said Scott Nielson, chairman of the Committee, in a statement.
‘We recognize, however, that money cannot replace a life lost or forever changed due to this tragic event,’ Nielson continued. ‘What the Committee worked hard to do was distribute the gifts given by tens of thousands of people in a way that would help those families and survivors most severely impacted by 1 October.’
‘In no way can it replace someone’s life,’ said Al Etcheber, the brother-in-law of Stacee Etcheber, who died when a gunman fired from a high-rise casino hotel into a country music festival below.
‘Still, it is a real nice way to help families who lost someone they loved.’
Stacee Etcheber was married to Al’s brother, San Francisco Police Officer Vincent Etcheber. The 50-year-old mother of two children worked as a hairdresser in Novato, California.
The aftermath of the October 1 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest festival is seen. A victim’s fund is preparing to make disbursements to those injured and the families of the dead
Victims fund spokesman Howard Stutz said the nonprofit expects to pay 100 percent of the funds raised, with payouts beginning Monday.
Police say 851 people were hurt by gunfire or other injuries while fleeing.
The fund grew into a nonprofit corporation that reported receiving more than 90,000 donations, with nearly 40 percent coming from southern Nevada gambling, tourism and entertainment companies.
Students, faculty and staff at a high school in suburban Henderson raised more than $66,000 through T-shirt sales, and a Vegas Strong benefit concert that raised nearly $700,000.
Disbursements were determined by a committee of victim advocates, mental health and medical professionals, lawyers, donors and others. The committee held two town hall meetings to hear from victims and their families.
The committee reported reviewing more than 1,600 email and written comments, with advice from national experts, including victim compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg and the National Center for Victims of Crime.