How funds from United for Waukesha Community Fund will be distributed
Just over two weeks after it was organized, the United for Waukesha Community Fund has already raised more than $3 million for victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy.
Now, decisions about how and when to distribute that money will be made by a committee of public and private officials from the Waukesha area called The United for Waukesha Community Fund Committee.
Funds have already been distributed to families of those who lost a loved one when an SUV plowed through the parade on Nov. 21, killing six and injuring more than 60.
The funds will be apportioned according to the “severity of the injury to the victims,” according to the Waukesha County Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, the organizers of the fundraiser.
Families who lost a loved one and victims who have received in-patient care are among the immediate priorities for organizers.
Transparency about how the funds will go out is crucial as well, said Amy Lindner, president & CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.
As of Monday morning, about 13,000 individual donors and organizations had donated more than $3 million to the fund. That total does not include matching funds from the Fotsch Family Foundation, which pledged to match up to $1 million of donations made to the United for Waukesha Community Fund from Nov. 29 to Dec. 4.
“I just continue to be so deeply grateful to this community who clearly really cares about everybody who was impacted and wants to be part of their healing,” Lindner said.
“I just continue to be so deeply grateful to this community who clearly really cares about everybody who was impacted and wants to be part of their healing.”
Amy Lindner president & CEO of United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County
If you were affected, here’s how you can apply for funds
Starting Friday, the committee will have three application forms for the funds.
The first is for families who lost a loved one.
The second is a “universal form for those who sustained physical injury, for those who were physically present at the Waukesha Christmas Parade, or an individual that was a first responder or other medical professional treating victims.”
The third is for area non-profits that were serving the affected community.
Lindner said the committee will generally decide the formula for the funds based on the length of hospitalizations and total medical bill costs for victims.
“Everybody who was hospitalized will receive payment, but your payment, if you have a two-day hospitalization, will be different than if you had a three-day hospitalization,” Lindner said.
The detailed protocol, claim forms and more details will be available at www.waukeshafoundation.org beginning Friday.
You can also ask for the application to be sent by email, by sending an email to info@waukeshafoundation.org.
A single claim form should be submitted for each eligible claimant as well.
Individuals can submit the form anytime from Friday to Feb. 28.
You can donate to the fund at bit.ly/UnitedforWaukesha.