ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida and the National Compassion Fund announced a partnership with OneOrlando on Thursday to make sure all money collected will be given to victims faster.
Officials with OneOrlando said this will speed up the process for the people to receive the money, as well as help prevent fraud.
Combined, the organizations have raised more than $17 million to help the families of the 49 killed and the 53 who were injured June 12 when Omar Mateen opened fire.
“We at The Center are grateful to be able to join our victims' fund with those of Equality Florida and OneOrlando. By unifying the funds, we will be able to ensure that those affected by this tragedy have a single resource to assist in the long road to recovery ahead of our community,” said Tim Vargas, The Center’s board president. “We look forward to working together to ensure our community is taken care of in the best way possible.”
Equality Florida has raised $7 million, largely via social media.
“We made three promises to all donors to the victim’s fund from day one. Every penny we receive will go to victims and survivors, without exception. We would be transparent about the process for disbursement, and we would do everything to expedite the funds while screening carefully for fraudsters,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida Executive Director.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said it will be months until victims will see the money.
“Our goal is to distribute it before Oct. 1,” Dyer said. “We don’t know how it will be distributed just yet. We are working on that.”
Dyer was at Dine Out for Orlando United fundraiser Thursday night with Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
“I know that they’re going to work hard to distribute that. I know for all of us, we want to make sure everybody impacted by this tragedy gets help,” said Scott.
Dyer said families are getting immediate financial assistance from several nonprofits, and state and local governments.
Half a dozen people have registered with the state to form nonprofits tied to the Pulse shooting.
Experts said that kind of response is common after a tragedy but said it’s also a challenge.
Forming a nonprofit is a multi-step process that includes filing with the state and the IRS, which could take a month or much longer.
“I think what we might be seeing right now is just a great deal of emotion,” said Margaret Linnane, of the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership. “People want to do something.”
Channel 9 contacted two people who have registered with the state. One called the process overwhelming, and the other said he plans to send the money he raised to the OneOrlando Fund. .
OneOrlando donations are still being accepted. For more information, visit OneOrlando.org.
Cox Media Group
