Nonprofit Returns $65K to Maine Shooting Victims After NewsNation Investigation

Misdirected Donations for Maine Shooting Victims

• 🎯 NewsNation's investigation revealed that $1.9 million in donations meant for victims of Maine's deadliest shooting was diverted to 29 unrelated nonprofits.
• 💔 Families of victims, like Amy Susman who lost her nephew Max, spoke out about the diversion of funds intended for those impacted by the massacre.
• ⚠️ At least nine of the recipient nonprofits were focused on helping immigrants, with no connection to the shooting victims.

One Nonprofit's Decision to Return Funds

• 💡 Following the reporting and outcry from victims, one nonprofit has agreed to return its $65,000 share of the donations.
• ✅ This nonprofit stated they feel returning the money is the right thing to do, emphasizing that the survivors and family members are the most important part of the story.
• 💬 Tiara Parker, a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting, and Bob Weiss, whose daughter was killed in a California mass shooting, echoed the sentiment that donations should directly benefit the victims of the specific tragedy.

Calls for Accountability and Transparency

• 📢 Anita Bush, founder of Victims First, stated that nonprofits accepting donations after a mass shooting should be assisting those victims.
• ❓ The Maine Community Foundation, which orchestrated the fund distribution, claims they were clear about two different funds, but has declined an interview.
• 🤝 The nonprofit returning the funds is doing so directly, not through the Maine Community Foundation, suggesting a direct outreach to survivors and families.
• 🙏 There is a hope that other nonprofits will follow suit and that the Maine Community Foundation will also step up to do the right thing.