DENVER- Following a press conference by the Colorado Springs Police Department providing an update on the mass shooting at the Canterbury Community in Colorado Springs, the Colorado Healing Fund (CHF) is now actively accepting donations in response to the tragedy. The CHF provides the safest way for people to donate in times of mass criminal tragedy, ensuring that the funds go to the families of the deceased, the survivors, and the greater impacted community.
“This is the second time the Colorado Healing Fund has been activated in less than two months, which is heartbreaking and hard to comprehend. While we will continue to respond to the Boulder Supermarket Tragedy, we are also officially collecting donations designated to support the victims, their families, and the impacted community of Sunday’s tragic events,” said Jordan Finegan, Executive Director of CHF.
“The Colorado Healing Fund stands ready to accept the public’s donations and will work with local agencies and organizations in Colorado Springs to identify and respond to the immediate and long-term needs of those impacted,” said CHF Board President Cynthia Coffman.
The public can securely donate through a variety of options:
Online by visiting ColoradoHealingFund.org;
Donate through Colorado Gives and direct the donation to the Colorado Springs Canterbury Community Shooting;
Checks and in-person donations will be accepted at Colorado-based FirstBank (1STBank) locations. Donors should make checks out to “Colorado Healing Fund” and write CO Springs in the memo. When depositing the check with bank tellers, please designate donations for the Colorado Healing Fund’s “victim account”.
If donors host a fundraiser with the proceeds intended to go to CHF, please send an email to info@coloradohealingfund.org.
Donations will be distributed through the Fund’s community partners to victims, including the Colorado Organization of Victim Assistance (COVA). CHF is partnering with state and local victim assistance organizations to determine how best to support the individuals and families after the shooting. The CHF Board of Trustees has flexibility to authorize funding for a broad variety of victim needs, whether that is a plane ticket or rental car in the short-term, or long-term mental health services, as well as in the form of direct-cash payments.
CHF is led by Coloradans with experience dealing with mass violence – including former Columbine principal Frank DeAngelis. The group understands all too well that not only short-term needs, but longer-term support will be critical to victims and their families.
“With tragedies like this where parents are taken from their children too soon, we must think of how we can continue to support the children years from now, as they continue to grow,” said Frank DeAngelis. “As I said all too recently, recovery from a mass shooting is a marathon, not a sprint. I’m so thankful that CHF can help address the emotional needs that come out of a tragedy like this.”
Established in 2018, the CHF is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees that represents a wide range of communities and geographic areas within Colorado. It is also supported by an Advisory Committee comprised of experts in victim advocacy and assistance. More about the non-profit organization can be found at ColoradoHealingFund.org.