RTI International donates $10,000 to support victims of Orlando tragedy

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC— In support of victims of the recent shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, RTI donated $10,000 to a fund established by Equality Florida, the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.

A gunman entered Pulse Nightclub, a club designed to embrace the LGBT community, on June 12 in the early hours and opened fire, leaving 49 people dead and more than 50 wounded. It was the worst mass shooting in United States history.

Equality Florida established the Pulse Victim Fund in partnership with the National Center for Victims of Crimes to support all victims of the tragedy – including families, survivors and those in the club who were not injured.

The National Center for Victims of Crimes will distribute the contributions via the National Compassion Fund, which was created based on proposals by victims and families from past mass casualty crimes across the country, including 9/11, Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Oak Creek and Newtown.

According to a CNN article, the families of deceased victims, those injured during the attack, and potentially anyone in the club during the shooting will receive the contributions raised. Recipients will be able to determine how to use the funds (e.g., funeral costs, medical bills, counseling).