Disney Gives $1M To Orlando Community-Based Fund; NCVC, Equality Florida Set Victim-Based Funds To Give 100% Of Donations Directly To Victims

The Walt Disney Company has announced a donation of $1 million to the OneOrlando Fund. The fund will not go directly to the victims but rather to the non-profits in the community. The move was in reaction to the horrific attack Saturday night on patrons of an LGBTQ dance club that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded. There are only two funds that will give 100% of donations collected directly to the victims (families of the deceased and those injured): They are The National Compassion Fund/Orlando here and Equality Florida’s fund here.

These two funds are using a protocol that 70 parents of murdered children and family members from some of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history — 9/11, Columbine, Va Tech, NIU, Aurora, Oak Creek Sikh Temple and Newtown helped to create and stand behind to battle the community-based funds who siphon money away from the victims who so desperately need it.

“The money won’t go directly to the victims, but will support non-profits involved in the effort to help the community and individuals impacted by the shooting,” the spokeswoman for the OneOrlando told the Orlando Sentinel. Where it would go was not yet decided but the non-profits were told to line up because grant money was coming.

Disney will also match dollar for dollar any “eligible donations” made by Disney company employees through the Disney Employee Matching Gifts: A Program of The Walt Disney Company Foundation to their community-based fund. Once again, the donations will not go directly to the victims, but to other non-profits in the area.

Disney also said that Walt Disney World Resort is providing complimentary accommodations to the families and friends of victims as part of an effort by the City of Orlando and the Central Florida Hotel & Lodging Association. The resort is also working with Central Florida agencies and authorities to provide support to the affected, and is coordinating blood donations from employee donors at five locations across the park.

The National Center for Victims of Crime who is overseeing the Compassion Fund/Orlando and working in lockstep with Equality Florida to make sure that every penny they collect is given to the victims will be the clearing house for Corporate America wanting to help the victims directly with other things such as flight arrangements and helping with funerals.

The Disney donation to the community non-profits comes after the news, exclusively reported by Deadline, of increased security at theme parks and resorts. Among the measures are an increase in undercover security and surveillance, as well as added defenses for the long term, though the company has not said whether or not metal detectors will be added to previously low-security areas like Downtown Disney in Anaheim or Disney Springs in Orlando.

The OneOrlando fund is accepting donations for the community on its official site.