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National Compassion Fund Designated to Support Victims in Charlottesville

written by Newspack Team | August 28, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 28, 2017 
 
CONTACT: 
National Center for Victims of Crime: Jeffrey R. Dion 
202-467-8717 or jdion@
 
National Compassion Fund Designated to Support Victims in Charlottesville 
100% of all donations collected are distributed directly to victims and their families. 
 
Washington, DC -The National Center for Victims of Crime, in close collaboration with the City of Charlottesville, has opened the National Compassion Fund Charlottesville to support those injured and killed in the terror attack on Saturday, August 12. The National Compassion Fund was established by the National Center for Victims of Crime as a safe and transparent way to give to victims directly and is the only straight-to-victim fund of its kind in the country. 
 
There has been an outpouring of charitable giving to GoFundMe campaigns to support victims and assist with their medical expenses. The City of Charlottesville urges the creators of these campaigns to transfer collected funds to the National Compassion Fund to ensure transparency, and to avoid fraud. The National Center for Victims of Crime, a 501(c)3 nonprofit and the administrator of the fund, is an authority on how victims are compensated for loss. A local Steering Committee will be appointed to represent the community. 
 
Donate to the National Compassion Fund Charlottesville:
 
•    Online at
•    By mail. Please make checks payable to the National Compassion Fund Charlottesville and send to:
 
National Center for Victims of Crime 
ATTN: National Compassion Fund Charlottesville
2000 M Street, NW, Suite 480 
Washington, DC 20036
 
“Our hearts go out to the family of Heather Heyer and all those injured in the terrible act of violence on Saturday in Charlottesville. The National Compassion Fund will work closely with the City of Charlottesville and others in the community to help meet the overwhelming, unmet needs of the victims,” said Mai Fernandez, Executive Director of the National Center for Victims of Crime.

“The City is pleased to work with the National Center for Crime Victims to ensure that all of the victims of the terrible events of August 12threceive the funds necessary to assist them in their time of need and to help them rebuild their lives,” said City Manager Maurice Jones.

The National Compassion Fund was founded along with parents and family members from some of the worst mass casualty events in U.S. history – September 11th, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois University, Aurora, Oak Creek Sikh Temple and Newtown.  Unlike other charitable funds, 100% of donations are distributed directly to the established victim base of these terrible atrocities. The Fund preserves the intent of donors who want to know that their gift is going directly to those harmed and will not be used for other purposes.

The National Compassion Fund is overseen and administered by the National Center for Victims of Crime and is advised by a specially constituted Expert Panel, with experience in mass crime victim compensation and the needs of crime victims. The panel also includes victim representatives from past mass casualty crimes to ensure that the voice of the victims are heard and integral to the distribution process. Expert panelists serve in a volunteer capacity. The fund is completely transparent and will inform the public of its deliberations in the distribution of funds.

The National Compassion Fund is designed, first and foremost, to serve victims. The goal is to help victims recover and rebuild their lives after a horrific crime. The National Center has the experience to help victims navigate this process, and to treat victims with the respect and dignity they deserve. Victims or family members who have questions about the Fund and/or resources available should call our Victim Connect Resource Center toll-free at 855-4-VICTIM between the hours of 9am and 7pm eastern time. 

For 30 years the National Center for Victims of Crime has been the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. The National Center for Victims of Crime is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and an authority on how victims are compensated for loss.