Aurora Shooting Fundraiser To End After Nearly $430K In Donations

AURORA, IL — In the month and a half that's passed since five people were killed in a mass shooting at Henry Pratt Manufacturing in Aurora, the Aurora Strong GoFundMe account has raised nearly half a million dollars. The city has opted to close the GoFundMe account on March 31 and distribute the funds equally between the families of Russell Beyer, Vicente Juarez, Josh Pinkard, Clay Parks, and Trevor Wehner, along with another employee who survived the shooting, Chicago Tribune reports.

Since the Aurora Strong Fund kicked off on Feb. 16, more than 1,800 donations have been made. In addition to individual donations from across the country, contributions were made by local businesses who started fundraisers to support the shooting victims.

Paramount Theatre raised more than $50,000 for the Aurora Strong Fund during its recent run of "The Producers" and the Sather Foundation raised around $20,000 at a bowling fundraiser Monday, city officials announced Tuesday.

The community wide fundraising efforts also included a live concert in late February and the sale of Aurora Strong t-shirts and other merchandise.

After online contributions close on March 31, donations can still be made via check until the end of April. You can send donations by check to Aurora City Hall | Aurora Strong Fund, 44 E. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60505 and writing"Aurora Strong Community Fund" in the memo.