Bourbon Street New Year's Day Tragedy victims share thoughts on victims' fund draft
Jan 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Greater New Orleans Foundation is deciding how to distribute donations for victims' families and survivors of the New Year's Day terror attack.
On Monday, Jan. 27, some of those family members weighed in on the foundation's plan.
The fund was created the morning of the tragedy and currently has received more than $2 million worth of donations.
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This current draft protocol highlights decisions on eligibility and distribution. On Monday, victims of the attack had the opportunity to share their input and ask questions before the final protocol is released.
"When you give away 100% of the money, when that happens then there's no money left and so if a survivor doesn't like what they get there's no right of appeal. That's why it's very important that we get everyone to buy into this process ahead of time," Mass Violence Disaster Fund Executive Director Jeff Dion said.
The current draft proposes four categories of eligibility: legal heirs of those killed, those injured and hospitalized overnight, those injured and treated on an outpatient basis and those suffering from psychological trauma who witnessed a companion or family member die or get injured.
"Yeah, maybe they were a companion or fiancé. If somebody who was killed severely, they may die in some cases be an eligible category, So, I want to make sure that that was a category," Greater New Orleans Foundation President and CEO Andy Kopplin said.
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Some of the victims say that the current plan is well thought out. The family of Matthew Tenedorio says they are happy to know that not only are they going to be compensated but his friends who witnessed him die as well.
"I think that's it. It's a great plan. It's a well thought out plan, and I think it's so it's a great way of you know helping the people that were there. They are traumatized. They are still traumatized," Matthew Tenedorio's aunt Linda Fleck said.
This fund is being administered by the 'Mass Violence Survivors Fund' organization which has previously administered 31 tragedy funds, and many of the New Year's Day victims say they are thankful for their work.
"They take care of victims all across the United States, and they have done a remarkable job and organizing it and bringing people together," Matthew Tenedorio's uncle Neil Fleck said.
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