​The #EvergreenStrong team is convening with other groups collecting donations to benefit the Evergreen community to do our best to spread the donations in the best possible way — determining which agency can provide funds for what purposes where others cannot, avoiding double-dipping and potential tax consequences for some, and allowing private insurance policies to be applied instead of donations to pay medical bills.  We are creating guidelines with a first draft to be reviewed this week.

 

Colorado Healing Fund has asked the Evergreen Legacy Foundation to be the disbursing agent for what they have collected, and ELF has agreed to do so, honoring their guidelines for the $30,000 or so they've tallied to date.  

 

We intend to publicize some of the other funds as well to give them legitimacy.  At this time we can endorse Colorado Healing Fund (Evergreen High School Shooting by CHF on Colorado Gives) and the GoFundMe site to benefit Matthew Silverstone.

 

The family of the second victim remains anonymous even to us.  Word from Victims' Advocacy indicates they feel they do not need assistance from these fundraising efforts.
 

We recognize that the primary concern is for mental health counseling -- for anyone impacted by this incident.  That might include (but not be limited to) students, families, neighbors, teachers and staff, those at neighboring schools where siblings and family members were terrified, and first responders.  Many are experiencing survivor guilt.

 

As we gather information from other communities that have gone through this sort of tragedy, they've all cautioned us that not everyone will be happy.  But it is our intent to distribute monies responsibly, offering transparency.

 

Although it shows we have $58,000 in donations, only $13,000 (donated initially by Evergreen Legacy Foundation and the EHS PTSA) is available at the moment.  There is a lag in making the monthly transfer to a bank account.

 

While conferring with Colorado Healing Fund, we've learned that donations as a result of the Evergreen shootings are small in comparison to other shootings -- in part because of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on the same day.  Media focus was diverted.  We will continue to encourage donations to help meet the needs as well as to steer some funds toward preventative measures.

 

We've all agreed that communication is key.  We expect to be getting periodic updates from Jeffco Schools, Victims' Advocacy, and other groups and we will pass them along as they become available.