100% of funds raised benefit victims’ families, survivors, and those impacted
Surfside, FL | July 22, 2021 – The Support Surfside Fund, a collaboration between The Coral Gables Community Foundation, The Key Biscayne Community Foundation and The Miami Foundation, today announced the volunteer members who will serve on the Support Surfside steering committee, to be chaired by Miami Dade College President Emeritus Dr. Eduardo J, Padrón.
The committee was formed in conjunction with The National Compassion Fund, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that distributes charitable contributions in the aftermath of mass casualty events and will be responsible for setting the distribution policy for funds collected to benefit those impacted by the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Florida on June 24, 2021.
The community, business, and civic leaders who will volunteer their time on the Steering Committee include:
| Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón | President Emeritus, Miami Dade College – Committee Chair |
| Marshall Ames | Chair, The Lennar Foundation |
| Sheldon T. Anderson | President, Grove Bank and Trust |
| Rebecca Fishman Lipsey | President, The Miami Foundation |
| James Haj | President, The Children’s Trust |
| Thomas Hoyer | Treasurer, Stand with Parkland |
| Rabbi Julie Jacobs | Beth David Congregation |
| Tova Kreps | President, Wellspring Counseling, LCSW |
| David Lawrence Jr. | Founder, The Children’s Movement of Florida |
| Carlos Migoya | CEO, Jackson Health |
| Leslie Miller Saiontz | Founder, Achieve Miami |
| Felipe Pinzon | Executive Director, Hispanic Unity |
| Hank Raatama | Partner, Akerman Law Firm |
| Mary Snow | President, Coral Gables Community Foundation |
| Jacob Solomon | CEO, Greater Miami Jewish Federation |
| Rev. Juan Sosa | St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Surfside |
| Steve Stowe | Vice President and Executive Director, Miami HEAT Charitable Fund |
| Melissa White | President, Key Biscayne Community Foundation |
“The steering committee of community, philanthropic, civic and business leaders is honored to serve and recognizes the incredible generosity of the thousands of people who have donated. We will approach this responsibility with both compassion and respect,” said Padrón. “In collaboration with the National Compassion Fund, the steering committee will draft a series of protocols and timelines for distributing funds. To inform the protocols, the steering committee invites victims’ families, donors and others directly impacted by this tragedy to offer feedback on these proposed rules.”
“This committee is important so that we can ensure that 100% of the funds go to the victims in a fair manner,” said Jeff Dion, Executive Director of the National Compassion Fund, which has assisted victims of many recent mass casualty events, including those in Orlando, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Parkland, FL; and El Paso, TX. “We are very fortunate to have a dedicated group of community leaders involved in this process and ensuring that our efforts are informed by community input and strong community values. Our goal is to help the victims and families as quickly, efficiently and fairly as possible.” An additional advisory group has also been formed to support the full steering committee in continued fundraising, policy formation, and dissemination of charitable dollars.
To date, more than $4.5 million has been donated to the Support Surfside Fund by more than 16,000 donors and over to $800,000 has been distributed as of July 22 in immediate and direct aid to victims and their families (including $155,000 in grants to eight nonprofits providing on-the-ground, daily, wraparound services to all those affected). Donations will be accepted through October 15, with distributions taking place in November 2021. Donations can be made at SupportSurfside.org. Those wishing to make donations by check should go to SupportSurfside.org for detailed payment information.
About Support Surfside
Support Surfside is a philanthropic fund set up by three community foundations and many local partners, to help those impacted by the devastating building collapse in Surfside, Florida. Support Surfside provides charitable dollars to the survivors of the Champlain Towers South, as well as designated representatives for the apartments with victims or missing people.
About the National Compassion Fund
The National Compassion Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that collects and distributes charitable contributions in the aftermath of mass casualty crimes. It is a subsidiary of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the nation’s leading resource and advocacy organization for crime victims and those who serve them. nationalcompassionfund.org