The Cincinnati Strong Victims Fund, a nonprofit established after the September 6 shooting at the Fifth Third Center, has distributed more than $1.2 million to over 30 people affected by the events that day.
"The Fifth Third Center shooting has been countered with a tremendous demonstration of compassion, resilience, support and generosity from people throughout the Greater Cincinnati region," Kristen Hall Wevers, chair of the Cincinnati Strong Victims Fund steering committee, says in a statement.
That includes various individuals and organizations, as well as the Fifth Third Foundation, which contributed $1 million. All of the money collected for the fund has been distributed to victims who applied, and who are free to use the funds how they choose.
The nonprofit National Compassion Fund created the Cincinnati Strong Victims Fund in October with the goal of "providing a monetary gift to those affected by the attack" that day, both physically and emotionally. The National Compassion Fund has established similar campaigns in cities impacted by gun violence, including Las Vegas, where 58 people were killed and more than 800 wounded, in a single incident in October 2017.
"Our goal was to support the victims and their families as much as we could in a quick, efficient and fair manner," National Compassion Fund Executive Director Jeff Dion says in a release. "We know that the Cincinnati community is continuing to grieve and recover and that those impacted by this tragedy are in the best position to determine what is most beneficial for their healing."
Three people were killed and two were wounded in the early morning attack at the Fifth Third Center off Fountain Square. Responding police officers shot and killed the gunman.
