Families of the people hurt in last month’s killing spree at Salon Meritage were given $150,000 in donations today from a fund set up after the massacre.
“We just want to get the money to the people most affected as quickly as possible,” said Seth Eaker of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, which established the fund along with the city and Watson and Associates, the owner of the shopping center where the Salon Meritage is located. “We want to simply be a community resource and clearing house for donations.”
The Seal Beach Victims Fund' at the Bank of America branch at 208 Main St. was established in the days following the shooting. Donations and money from Seal Beach T-shirt sales, a cut-a-thon and tattoo-a-thon, the Seal Beach Lions, the Rotary Club and several businesses such as Athens West and 320 Main quickly brought in money to help those most affected by the shooting, including the children of the 8 people killed that day.
"It has been an amazing effort on the part of the business, residential and non-profit organizations both in town and beyond in our neighboring communities, that has come together to provide needed help for the families. The Fund wishes to thank all of those who have workedand contributed so generously to make a difference," Eaker said in a written statement.
Another disbursement of donations will be made to the families in the first week of January. Donations will be accepted through the end of the year.
Donations can be sent to the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce or with checks made payable to the 'Seal Beach Victims' Fund.' Credit card donations are also being accepted.
Ongoing fundraisers for the victims’ families include a drawing for an iPad2 by the Los Alamitos Police Officers Association to be held Nov. 20th and the Rotary Club’s sale of $3 bracelets in support of Seal Beach. The bracelets can be purchased at , and the drawing tickets can be purchased by calling 562-431-2255 x 473 or by sending checks made payable to LAPOA with SBVF written in the memo section to PO Box 678, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.
