Las Vegas Victims Fund officials still silent on amount raised

The Las Vegas Victims’ Fund was established in October to oversee the consolidation and distribution of donations following the Oct. 1 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival that left 58 people dead and hundreds of others injured.

Scott Nielson, chairman of the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund committee, did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

Nielson previously told the Review-Journal that would-be donors were encouraged to give money by Jan. 31, and last month said the fund would continue its fundraising efforts through the end of February.

“We don’t want to provide a dollar figure for the total amount contributed until our efforts are concluded and the contributions have been deposited in the LVVF bank account. Providing a dollar figure that is an inaccurate estimate would be a disservice to the families and survivors of 1 October. We look forward to providing the total amount available for distribution in the near future,” Nielson said at the time.

Nielson said Dec. 15 that the fund had more than $22 million. He has not given any updated figures since.

Money in the Las Vegas Victim’s Fund will go to people in three categories of descending priority:

1. The families of those who were killed in the shooting and people who sustained permanent brain damage and/or permanent paralysis resulting in continuous home medical assistance.

2. People who were physically injured as a result of the shooting and first admitted to a hospital between Oct. 1 and Oct. 10 for at least one night through Dec. 15. The amount for the injured will be allocated by the number of cumulative overnight hospital stays.

3. People who were physically injured as a result of the shooting and who were treated on an emergency or outpatient basis on or before Oct. 10.

Contact Nicole Raz at nraz@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4512. Follow @JournalistNikki on Twitter.