A six-year-old boy playing in a bounce house in Gilroy, CA. An 86-year-old grandma shopping in El Paso, TX. A 30-year-old celebrating his birthday with friends in Dayton, OH. These are just three of the 32 victims who have died in the last nine days due to mass shootings in the US, some of which may be classified as hate crimes. In El Paso, the suspected shooter has been tied to a vicious and increasingly interconnected community of white nationalists who openly espouse their hatred of immigrants.
In the wake of these horrific events, we start this week wondering: What can we do? How do we honor the people who have lost their lives? Here are some suggestions for organizations you can support at this critical time. SFF donors may recommend a grant from their donor advised fund to these organizations.
Community Foundations: Community foundations work with local nonprofit organizations to determine the short- and long-term needs of the community, ensuring that all donations are effectively deployed.
- El Paso Community Foundation: El Paso Shooting Victims’ Relief Fund
- Dayton Foundation: Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund
- The Gilroy Foundation & Silicon Valley Community Foundation: Gilroy Garlic Festival Victims Relief Fund
Organizations Supporting Immigrants in the El Paso Area:
- Annunciation House: An organization in El Paso that operates shelters for migrants and refugees on the border.
- Hope Border Institute: A faith-based organization in El Paso that manages a network of shelters for migrants and refugees on the border.
Organizations Addressing Gun Violence:
- Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: The Brady Campaign is among the most recognized organizations working on the issue of gun violence in the U.S. They mobilize communities to advocate for sensible and responsible gun laws, regulations, and public policies at the local, state, and national levels.
- United Playaz: UP is located in San Francisco’s SoMa neighborhood and offers an in-school violence prevention program and an after-school program. They provide crisis support and response teams to prevent and reduce violence 24 hours a day, in addition to a successful gun buyback program.
- East Oakland Youth Development Center:EOYDC is a key community anchor in the East Oakland neighborhood. EOYDC recognizes that for the youth and families they serve to thrive in their communities, these communities need to be safe places that foster health and well-being, free from gun violence.
We stand together with these organizations during these difficult times and know that they are deeply committed to supporting those who need the resources the most. In the face of tragedy, we have the opportunity to come together and deepen our commitment to each other. From here to communities across the country, let’s turn our grief into action. We know that America can be better than this.
Questions? Please contact donorservices@sff.org for more information on any of these long-time foundation grantees, or for additional giving recommendations.
