Fundraisers Raise Over $250K For Christian School Families
In the aftermath of a devastating school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, several fundraising initiatives have raised significant amounts of money for the families of the victims. The tragic incident, which took place on December 16, claimed the lives of a student and a teacher while injuring several others. In the three weeks following the attack, these fundraisers have collected hundreds of thousands of dollars to support those affected.
One prominent fundraiser, created on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe, aims to assist the victims’ families. As of Tuesday afternoon, it had raised over $27,000 of its $250,000 goal. According to the organizer, Andy Eastman, the funds will go toward covering funeral expenses, lost wages, and the educational needs of children impacted by the tragedy. Additionally, Eastman shared that some of the money would be used to fulfill the wishes of Erin West, the teacher who was killed. She had planned to take her three daughters to Disney World this spring, and the fundraiser will help make this trip possible for the children.
The day following the shooting, the United Way of Dane County announced the creation of the Abundant Life Christian School Emergency and Recovery Fund, designed to assist those affected by the tragedy. By Tuesday, the fundraiser had received contributions from approximately 1,440 donors, totaling $240,740.
In another show of community support, 66 Culver’s restaurants across Wisconsin pledged to donate a portion of their profits from one day to support the victims’ families. The United Way made it clear that while the percentage of proceeds donated would vary from location to location, each participating restaurant would display the amount it was contributing, allowing customers to easily see how their purchases were helping.
Renee Moe, President and CEO of United Way of Dane County, expressed heartfelt condolences for those impacted by the shooting. She encouraged the community to continue donating, emphasizing that every contribution, no matter the size, would help the families and individuals affected.
Doug Butler, Principal of Abundant Life Christian School, thanked the United Way for its efforts and said that the school was “overwhelmed” by the community’s generosity. He assured donors that a transparent process for distributing the funds would be put in place once the school had a clearer understanding of the needs. In a letter to the United Way, Butler outlined how the funds would be allocated, with priority given to supporting the families of those who lost loved ones, followed by medical expenses for the injured, and then mental health services for the school community.
Founded in 1978, Abundant Life Christian School serves approximately 390 students from kindergarten through 12th grade, providing an education rooted in Christian values.