Over 100,000 people have donated almost $5 million to the Orlando shooting victims, making it the fastest-growing crowdfunding charity in history.
With donors from 105 countries raising $3.5 million so far, the Pulse campaign is truly a global effort. https://t.co/0cSvjt7TyP
— GoFundMe (@gofundme) June 14, 2016
GoFundMe campaign for families of victims in Pulse attack breaks site record https://t.co/Tw4D4Ef3BT
— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) June 14, 2016
Setup by Equality Florida Action, a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender civil rights non-profit organization, the GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign originally had a fundraising goal of $100,000 but it has gained the support of over 100,000 people around the world who have donated almost $5 million since its launch on June 12.
An important read if you're thinking about donating money to the victims of the Pulse shooting. https://t.co/MCQfAqynkC
— Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) June 14, 2016
GoFundMe to support victims of Orlando shooting has raised $3.1M—the biggest campaign ever https://t.co/d6SQ5ymAq8 pic.twitter.com/j6h4aM9p2C
— Forbes (@Forbes) June 15, 2016
It has become the fastest growing and largest crowdfunding campaign in GoFundMe’s history, according to the San Diego and Menlo Park, California-headquartered company.
GoFundMe also donated $100,000 when the amount raised passed $2 million, effectively wiping out their usual 5 percent transaction fee ensuring that every single penny donated will go towards supporting the victims and their families.
“We would like to inform all supporters that GoFundMe has contributed $100,000 towards this campaign to support the victims and their families,” Equality Florida said in a statement on the crowdfunding page.
GoFundMe to support victims of Orlando shooting has raised $3.1M—the biggest campaign ever https://t.co/d6SQ5ymAq8 pic.twitter.com/j6h4aM9p2C
— Forbes (@Forbes) June 15, 2016
Equality Florida said it is working in conjunction with the City of Orlando, local partners, and the National Center for Victims of Crime, which has deployed funds in previous mass-shootings, to distribute the contribution from our Pulse Victim Fund.
“Every penny raised will be distributed directly to the victims and their families. We are working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly.
“We do not know the total costs for the victims of this horrific hate crime, therefore are working to raise as much as possible and disperse the funds as fast as possible,” Equality Florida said on its campaign page.
The Pulse Victim Fund is on course to exceed the largest charitable donation ever made via crowdfunding when $5,048,213 was raised by Morehouse College on Indiegogo’s crowdfunding platform to restore a chapel in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. in May 2015.
Equality Florida’s statement on mass shooting at Orlando gay club:
We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2am capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 49 people dead and over 50 injured according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country.
Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.
We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.
