Elaine Wilson talks to Nicole Raz about the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund being disbursed, how much the money will help and how the fund compares to previous mass shootings across the country.
On Thursday forensic accountant Larry Bertsch was appointed special administrator of the estate of Stephen Paddock. All of Paddock’s estate will be disseminated to Route 91 Harvest festival victims.
Three major sources of funds are available in Nevada for victims and related initiatives of the Oct. 1 shooting. 1. Nevada Victims of Crime program The fund is financed primarily by fines and penalties paid by convicted offenders, not by tax dollars. The money is used to pay for a variety of services, including medical bills, funerals and counseling for anybody who was a victim of a crime that took place in Nevada. 2. Las Vegas Victims’ Fund This 501(c)(3) nonprofit was set up on behalf of Clark County and has collected money from around the world in response to the shootings at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival. The entirety of the money in the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund will go to people in three categories: – The families of those who were killed in the shooting and people who sustained permanent brain damage and/or permanent paralysis resulting in continuous home medical assistance. -People who were physically injured as a result of the shooting and first admitted to a hospital between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10 for at least one night through Dec. 15. – People who were physically injured as a result of the shooting and who were treated on an emergency or outpatient basis on or before Oct. 10. 3. Vegas Strong Fund The Vegas Strong Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by the Nevada resort industry in response to the shooting. Half of whatever the Vegas Strong Fund collects was slated to land in the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund by Jan. 31. Jan Jones Blackhurst, chairperson of the Vegas Strong Fund, said the other half will “support long-term needs of the community.”
The Vegas Strong Fund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed by the Nevada resort industry after the Oct. 1 Las Vegas shooting The fund intends to donate to the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund as well as to “support long term needs of the community.” Those needs have not yet been defined The Vegas Strong Fund has collected more than $12 million, including commitments
The Las Vegas Victims’ Fund currently has around $17 million 58 people were killed and 546 people were injured during the Oct. 1 shooting Thousands more were at the Route 91 Harvest festival concert and are also in need of financial help In about the same amount of time, $61 million was raised for victims and survivors of the 2013 Boston Marathon attack $61 million raised for the 3 people who were killed and 246 who were injured Between mid-June 2016 and the end of September, $29.5 million was raised for victims and survivors of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting $29.5 million for the 49 who were killed and the 68 who were injured The Las Vegas Victims’ Fund will stop collecting money Jan. 31, 2018