Donors gave more than $3.7 million after Allen mall shooting. Where did the money go?

By Maria Halkias
https://www.dallasnews.com

Mental health support for Allen residents and first responders remains a priority a year after the mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets.

Three major sources of disbursements — VictimsFirst, the Communities Foundation of Texas and GoFundMe — have collected more than $3.7 million.

“The one-year mark of an unspeakable tragedy like this often requires additional and increased mental health support in the days, weeks, and months ahead,” said Wayne White, CEO of the Communities Foundation of Texas.

Grants will continue to be awarded for ongoing and long-term recovery services providing mental health, grief and trauma support. More than 650 individuals, families and businesses gave more than $500,000 to the Communities Foundation of Texas’ Support for Allen Fund.

VictimsFirst, a California-based nonprofit set up in 2012 through a network of surviving victims of past mass shootings, is in the process of making a second disbursement to the Allen families and wounded who have needed follow-up surgeries and care bringing their total to $784,026.

In addition to funds to the families of the deceased and wounded, “we helped those who were hiding in stores, shot at in their cars, anyone we could verify, we helped,” said Anita Busch, VictimsFirst treasurer and co-founder. The group reported multiple incidents of fraud to law enforcement. VictimsFirst gives 100% of what it raises directly to victims, including interest, and the staff takes no administrative fees.

VictimsFirst received donations from individuals, corporations and small fundraisers and worked closely with the Credit Union of Texas.

“We could not have done this without their service,” Busch said. The Credit Union of Texas staff “are the most kind and caring people from the head of the company down through its philanthropic unit. Very grateful for all of their compassion for the Allen victims.”

The Communities Foundation of Texas received funds for Allen from major corporate contributors including Access Healthcare, Bank of America, Crocs, Dallas Mavericks Foundation, Dallas Stars Foundation, FC Dallas, Fossil Group, Greystar, Home Team Prints, Kendra Scott Foundation, Macy’s, Medical City Healthcare, New Balance, Pioneer Natural Resources, Pluckers, and Rent-A-Center.

“We are continuing to make grants from the fund in support of those impacted, especially in terms of mental health support for Allen community members and first responders through LifePath Systems and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute,” White said.

• LifePath Systems has received $125,000 in grants so far. When stores reopened on May 31, 25 days after the shooting, LifePath staff went to each store to provide support for employees and it continues to operate a 24/7 support hotline. LifePath operates the new Center for Healing where licensed therapists and crisis counselors work with those affected by the shootings and with school districts to let parents and students know the resources are available to them.
• The Children’s Advocacy Center of Collin County received $50,000. Its staff helped the FBI Dallas Field Office and the Allen Police Department to work with impacted children and their extended families who were present at the shooting. The Collin County center worked with its statewide association to create a playbook for working with children in future mass shootings.
• Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute has received $40,500 and more funds will be announced to provide clinical services to officers who responded to the shooting and their families. It also supports the new “Texas Blue Chip” program created last summer to offer confidential mental health services to officers. More than 100 visits from Allen Police Department staff have been logged since the program was created in late August.
• Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation was awarded $10,000 for past and ongoing efforts in supporting those affected by the shooting. Several of the victims of the shooting were South Asian. The group created a series of “healing circles” and discussions for counselors, faith leaders, law enforcement, youth, advocates and families.

The Support for Allen Fund cannot make direct payments to individuals, but it can fund other 501(c)(3) nonprofits that can. There are five verified GoFundMe pages, according to the Communities Foundation of Texas.

The Allen, TX Shooting Victim’s Fund, which raised $353,132 for the VictimsFirst disbursements and five specific family pages:

• The GoFundMe campaign for Kyu, Cindy and James Cho of Allen has raised $1,890,690. Their son, William, survived the shooting. He was 6 years old at the time.
• Irwin Walker of McKinney was shot twice in the chest while driving past the shooter in his car. He survived and is recovering. His GoFundMe says $108,886 was raised.
• Sisters Daniela, 11, and Sofia Mendoza, 8, were killed and their mother Ilda Mendoza was injured. The Wylie family’s page lists $316,642 raised.
• Christian LaCour, 20, of Farmersville, was a security guard at Allen Premium Outlets and it is believed he saved others before he was killed. His page has raised $108,417.
• Elio Cumana-Rivera was from Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela and came to the U.S. to help support his family. His page has raised $18,176 and is organized by Lulac.