National Center for Victims of Crime

100% of what we collect will go DIRECTLY to the survivors of the mass shooting that took place in Boulder at King Soopers on March 22, 2021. Our mass shooting families across the nation are devastated that families from yet another mass shooting in Colorado have now joined us all in grief and are now on the path to learning how to navigate what will become a new way of thinking, feeling and living.

Our prayers are with the families of Denny Stong, 20; Neven Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Teri Leiker, 51; Officer Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65 and all those who survived this mass shooting at King Soopers.

We are now collecting donations in order to make sure the victims’ families and those who survived the direct impact of this event receive the funds Directly and to protect them from fraud and exploitation. Our families have been re-victimized in the past by non-profits that collect funds for themselves after a mass shooting saying they will “support” the families which is usually the verbiage used when donations do not go directly to the victim base itself.

We vowed this would never happen again, so families of the deceased from the Columbine, VaTech, Northern Illinois University, the Aurora theater shooting, the Oak Creek Sikh Temple shooting, and Newtown (Sandy Hook) joined together to help establish the National Compassion Fund with the National Center of Victims of Crime. Since then, families from across the nation from other mass shootings including Tucson, Vegas, Alturas, Santa Barbara (Isla Vista), Roseburg, and Orlando Pulse and others have endorsed the National Compassion Fund.

The National Compassion Fund has so far distributed funds directly to survivors of 14 mass casualty crimes, including the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando; the Las Vegas Harvest Festival Shooting; the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL; the Walmart shooting in El Paso, TX, and the Brewery shooting in Milwaukee.

The funds collected by the Fund go DIRECTLY to the families of those who were killed, people who were physically injured, and survivors who were on site at the time of the shooting and suffered psychological trauma. These gifts to survivors are in the form of financial payments with no strings attached, thereby fulfilling the full intent of the donors (you).

We will make sure that if the National Compassion Fund cannot administer this fund, we will find a way to get the funds directly to the families.

Please join with our families across the nation to help our new, unfortunate family of the March 22nd shooting in Colorado. They need you now.

Shaun’s Walk for Victims of Violent Crime

Shaun Wild, our son, brother and friend, lost his life to a senseless act of violence on February 4th, 2012 in Naperville, Illinois. Our Family has decided to embark on a 40 mile walk to raise funds for victims of violent crime and their families. I, Bruce Wild, will depart from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois where Shaun began his college career and walk to the campus of North Central College in Naperville, IL where Shaun graduated in 2011. We anticipate kicking off the event on Friday, May 17th at ~10:00 am and completing the walk on Sunday afternoon, May 19th.

At the time of his death, Shaun was a second grade teacher at Springbrook Elementary in Naperville, IL. Since then, our family and friends have provided scholarships for students at Brown Deer High School, where Shaun attended high school, and North Central College. Our family has looked for ways to honor his memory and extend his life of service. We see this event as another way of honoring his memory, by providing financial assistance to victims of violent crime and their families.

We have set up a Go Fund Me page, with all proceeds being directed to the National Center for Victims of Violent Crime National Compassion Fund based out of Washington, D.C. This organization coordinates with local communities to provide financial support to families affected by mass casualty events. They have done great work going back to Columbine, 9/11, Virginia Tech, NIU, Sandy Hook and many others. This organization is the leading advocate for victims of violent crime and their families. Since Shaun’s passing, we have met with and shared stories with many families of victims of violent crime. We have grieved together, prayed together and offered support to each other as we all seek a path to healing.

Violent crime is indiscriminant; it knows no borders or boundaries. It affects all demographics of race, sex, religion and national origin. The effects on families are devastating both emotionally and financially. The effects are life-changing and long-lasting. Each step of this journey is dedicated to the memory of the victims and to build solidarity with the survivors who must carry this burden for the rest of their lives.

We will post updates on Shaun’s “In Memory of Shaun Wild” Facebook page each day. We hope to reconnect with our Springbrook and NCC Families over the weekend. Walkers are encouraged to join us. T shirts can be ordered and picked up at Beyond Measure Training in Naperville or from our WiLd family at The Lantern on Saturday, May18 . More event details will be found on this Facebook page.

With our love and appreciation,

Bruce, Jami, Shaun, Kevin and Shannon Wild