With their victimized stature already drawn out in perpetuity, the families of the Chardon High School shooting victims are now getting a firm backhand from a less likely entity: United Way.
Nearly $1 million has been raised to support the families’ healing process via the Chardon Healing Fund, but they’ve only managed catch 15 percent of that. A lawsuit filed by the families names United Way of Greater Cleveland, United Way of Geauga County, Geauga County Board of Mental Health and Recovery Services and the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. The May 21 complaint claims that United Way did not manage the account appropriately or in the spirit of its initial formation and intent.
“Upon information and belief, the Trust is not being used for the purpose for which it was created and/or represented to the public,” Akron attorney Todd McKenney, representing the estate of victim Demetrius Hewlin, wrote.
Judge Timothy Grendell froze the United Way-administered Chardon Healing Fund until a June 7 evidentiary hearing in the pending lawsuit.
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2013.
So, what exactly do the families want them to do with the money? Divide it and pay it out to the families in full now? Because I would imagine the fund would try to make payments over a few years?