On New Year’s Day, a U.S. Army veteran flying an ISIS flag from his truck drove into a crowd of people celebrating the new year, killing 14 people and injuring 30 more. The suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas who once served in Afghanistan, died in a shootout with police.
Here are some ways that Philadelphians can support those in New Orleans in the wake of this horrific tragedy.
Before reviewing the options, it’s crucial to discuss the importance of vetting fundraisers to avoid fraud schemes.
The Better Business Bureau urged people on Friday to avoid fraudulent fundraisers as the unfortunate truth is that people often take advantage of other’s charitable giving in the aftermath of tragedies like the New Orleans terror attack. As families grieve and communities seek ways to help, opportunistic fraudsters are on the hunt for their next scheme.
“So many people unfortunately, they prey on victims and their families in a time like this, and it is so sad and it is so unnecessary,” said Vice President of the Better Business Bureau Monde Donaldson. “These people are grieving and yet people are raising money in their name, when it is not for those families, it is for that scammer.”
That said, two charities that are verified by the Better Business Bureau and accept donations are the Greater New Orleans Foundation and the United Way of Southeast Louisiana.
The Greater New Orleans Foundation
The Greater New Orleans Foundation is a philanthropic institution dedicated to driving positive impact through philanthropy, leadership, and action in the Greater New Orleans Region. For the past 100 years, the foundation has connected donors and fundholders with causes that affect transformational change. That remains the case in the aftermath of the New Year’s Day tragedy as, in partnership with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and community leaders, The Greater New Orleans Foundation has launched the New Orleans New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund.
“Through the New Orleans New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund, we are raising money to help the families of the victims and survivors start to heal and recover from this heartbreaking tragedy. We are utilizing the tried-and-true avenues we use when responding to other disasters in our region,” said Andy Kopplin, President & CEO of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “Everyone has a job in times of disaster, and ours is raising money and deploying it to the most in need.”
Truly acting for the betterment of the people affected by this attack, 100% of all donations to the fund will directly support the families of those whose lives were taken and those seriously injured or impacted by this event.
The United for New Orleans Relief Fund
Launched by the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, the United for New Orleans Relief Fund provides direct support to the victims of the New Year’s Day attack and their families. The donations received by the project will help to cover medical expenses, funeral costs, trauma counseling, and more for those affected. Like with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, 100% of donations received through this fund will go directly to those impacted, according to the United Way.
“Our hearts are heavy as we grieve with the victims and all those affected by the tragic attack in New Orleans,” said Michael Williamson, president and CEO of United Way of Southeast Louisiana. “In times like these, we must come together as a community to support one another.”
GoFundMe
Yes, GoFundMe may be the first place people think of for fundraising, but more likely for crowdfunding projects or individual support, and no, it was not on the Better Business Bureau’s verified list. But in this instance, there is a difference between how GoFundMe is typically used and how it applies in this situation — GoFundMe has organized a collective page featuring various fundraisers related to the New Orleans attack.
Some may be standoffish, as to the validity of the fundraisers, but GoFundMe has worked diligently to verify each and every fundraiser listed on the page. According to the fundraising platform, “The GoFundMe community is coming together to support those affected. Donate to verified fundraisers today to help the people and families affected. Our Trust & Safety team will continue to update this page with more fundraisers as they are verified.”
All fundraisers on this page are also backed by GoFundMe’s Giving Guarantee, a donor protection guarantee.
