Affliction Designs T-Shirts to Aid Shooting Victims

Exactly two months after the Seal Beach massacre, the city is slowly returning to normalcy, but efforts continue on behalf of the victims' families.

From barbecues to tattoo-a-thons, various fundraisers have been created. Much of the money was funneled into the city-sponsored Seal Beach Victims Fund, which has distributed $150,000, but will cease taking donations Dec. 30.

A more open-ended effort was launched by the Affliction clothing company,  headquartered in Seal Beach.

“Hopefully we can raise a lot of money for the families,” said Rachel Cooper, a writer at the company.

Affliction's fundraising vehicle is a T-shirt.

"We make premium clothing, so we figured the best way for us to contribute and support our community was to offer this shirt, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the families of the eight victims,” Cooper said.

So far, Affliction has sold more than 500 of the men’s shirts, and nearly 300 of the women’s. At $20 apiece, that means the fund now tops $15,000. The shirts can be purchased at Affliction's Seal Beach store on Apollo Drive or online at afflictionclothing.com.

Affliction said it will continue making the shirts--and sending the proceeds to victims' families--as long as people keep buying them.

“We don’t have a set goal in mind," Cooper said, adding that "we’re happy with what we’ve accomplished so far."

Seal Beach Victims Fund

Meanwhile, the Seal Beach Victims Fund is preparing to wind down its campaign. Established by the city, the Chamber of Commerce and Watson & Associates, which owns the shopping center where Salon Meritage stands, the fund will accept its final donation at the end of the year and distribute its collection in January.

Seth Eaker of Black Marble Consulting is the communications liaison for the effort, which is run by five trustees: two from the chamber, one from the city, one from Watson and Eaker.

The fund was set up as a "transparent," reliable clearinghouse for community fundraising efforts, Eaker said. No money is distributed unless all five trustees approve it, he said.

Donations must be received by Dec. 30, when the fund closes. Checks made payable to the Seal Beach Victims Fund can be left at the Seal Beach Bank of America branch at 208 Main St.