PORTLAND, Maine — One organization is launching an independent investigation into the distribution of funds that the Maine Community Foundation raised through the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund.
The Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund was created by the Maine Community Foundation to support families of victims who were either killed in the Lewiston mass shooting last October or directly impacted by it.
The Uvalde Foundation for Kids is raising concerns about how the Maine Community Foundation distributed money that was raised through the fund and is questioning whether those families are being properly supported.
According to Jennifer West, who sits on the Uvalde Foundation for Kids' board of directors, the organization plans to determine whether the funding that families received through the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund was substantial.
West explained through email that families who suffered losses experienced immediate and long-term impacts, noting that those affected need access to long-term aid that covers the cost of mental health care, counseling, loss of income, and other recurring needs.
West said the Uvalde Foundation for Kids has received several reports from families of victims who have reported that they have been denied support services from nonprofit programs and organizations that received funding from the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund.
According to the Maine Community Foundation's website, $6.6 million was raised through the fund. A portion of that money went directly to the families of the 18 victims who were killed in the Lewiston mass shooting, but other portions of the funding were given to 29 different nonprofit organizations.
Amanda Sussman's nephew, Maxx Hathaway, was killed in the mass shooting. She explained that she understands the Maine Community Foundation's mission is to build communities, but she questions why nonprofit organizations received money that was raised to support victims to begin with.
"Probably perhaps the Lewiston-Auburn are could have needed some community building prior to the shooting, and I think this became an opportunity to start doing that a bit. That's where I'm troubled by it, because my nephew was murdered," Sussman. "And I know there were needs in the community before he was murdered, and I think the needs for his family are not met by what was done for the community frankly."
Sussman said she has been digging to find answers to her questions.
West from the Uvalde Foundation said they are requesting that the Maine Community Foundation releases a formal report of what nonprofits received funds from the Lewiston-
Auburn fund and how much each nonprofit received. The organization is also seeking oversight from the state's attorney general's office.
NEWS CENTER Maine was not able to receive any communications back from the Maine Community Foundation or the nonprofits that received funds from the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund.
NEWS CENTER Maine plans to have continued coverage on these issues to provide even and ethical reporting on the matter.