The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga is among many organizations that have stepped up to help organize and raise financial support for the families of the victims of Thursday’s brutal attack, which killed five people and left two others injured.
“Chattanooga has been rocked and the lives of countless individuals and families were changed,” said Pete Cooper, president of the Community Foundation. “The citizens in the area were shocked and moved to an outpouring of support for those involved, especially for the long-term support of the families of four Marines who gave their lives in this incident.”
In addition to the Community Foundation’s 7-16 Freedom Fund, the National Center for Victims of Crime has opened the National Compassion Fund Chattanooga to support victims and their families. The fund will give all donations directly to families, according to a statement from the National Compassion Fund, which was founded along with parents and families from other mass casualty events such as Virginia Tech, Aurora, Colo., and Newtown, Conn.
On Friday, in a statement, Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke praised the efforts and thanked both the National Center for Victims of Crime and the Community Foundation for coming together to help.
“We have seen a tremendous amount of support for the families of our fallen heroes,” he said. “I encourage all Chattanoogans to do what they can to help.”