Cox Media Group Ohio, including WHIO, Dayton Daily News and Dayton.com, has partnered with the Dayton Foundation in this fund-raising effort.
“It’s amazing. The outpouring of support has been unreal. We’re so pleased,” Smith said. “We set up the fund Sunday afternoon, it was ready to go within the first 12 hours (after shooting) and when we came into work Monday morning we were just bombarded by calls, emails and credit card pledges.”
The Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund at the Dayton Foundation is accepting online credit card gifts as well as checks by mail. For online donations, the foundation will waive the credit card processing fee so that 100 percent of the contribution will be used to assist others.
>> PHOTOS: Candlelight vigil in Dayton after shooting
Pledges of more than tens of thousands of dollars are expected to come in from across the nation, Smith said, quickly making the current $360,000 climb much higher. From restaurants fundraising in Texas, to organizations in California holding benefits right now, the mass shooting has touched people everywhere.
“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this horrific event,” Mike Parks, president of The Dayton Foundation, wrote on the foundation’s web site. “Many people want to reach out and help our friends, families and neighbors in the aftermath of this incident. Individuals who contribute to the Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund can be assured that their donations will be distributed safely and responsibly as we continue to work with local officials in the days ahead.”
>> Oregon District shooting: What we've learned about the victims
Individuals interested in contributing to the fund may make a secure, online credit card donation here, or mail a check to The Dayton Foundation, 40 N. Main Street, Suite 500, Dayton, OH 45423. "Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund" or "Fund #8365" should be designated on the check or in the fund name field.
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Contributions are fully tax deductible, foundation officials say.
The Sunday morning deadly shooting attacks in the Oregon District left 10 dead, including the suspected shooter, and nearly 30 injured. Nine of those injured were still hospitalized as of this morning, Aug. 5.
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A fund launched by the Dayton Foundation to benefit victims of the Memorial Day tornado outbreak raised nearly $1 million by July 8, foundation officials said.
>> PHOTOS: Deadly mass shooting in Dayton's Oregon District
For more information about the Dayton Foundation, go to DaytonFoundation.org.
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