Sources: Some theater victims’ families question how donated money is being used

Sources affiliated with several of the Aurora theater shooting victims families have called a press conference for Tuesday.

Officially no one will confirm what the press conference is about.

But sources tell FOX31 Denver’s Justin Joseph the press conference will address perceived problems with the Community First Foundation … The foundation that handles the bulk of the money donated to the Aurora victim’s fund.

Several sources with the families say the complaint is that money is not being distributed directly to the families. Instead the money is being given to service providers like medical professionals.

The president of the Community First Foundation tells Justin Joseph Monday night the fund has roughly $5 million in it and, to date, they have distributed about $450,000.

The president says she just learned about the complaints Monday and has only heard from one of the victim’s families directly.

In a statement she says: “’I understand this is difficult. I can`t begin to put myself in (the victims’ families) shoes. We feel like our responsibility with the fund is to meet the pressing needs that can’t be met with other resources. This is hard work and we want to do it as best we can.”

A source with one of the families says the fund manager is not communicating how the money will be distributed.

Several of the families will be present Tuesday, but not all families agree with the position being taken.

The Governor’s office has been made aware of this issue, but no one was available for comment Monday night.

A representative for Tuesday’s announcement says she cannot comment on this story. She says the families have been through so much and this is incredibly difficult.