Pathways to Heal Louisville

The Community Foundation of Louisville extends our deepest condolences to the survivors of recent incidents of mass casualty crimes at Old National Bank and Chickasaw Park. We acknowledge that those who survived these tragic events will have a long journey ahead to cope with the enduring trauma of senseless violence. In recent years, Louisville has experienced a significant increase in gun violence, with over 160 gun-related deaths occurring yearly. These incidents of recurring violence are an indicator of a community in crisis.

Many are asking, what can they do to address this crisis right now? Over the past week, the Community Foundation of Louisville staff has spoken with survivors of gun violence and nonprofit leaders to develop a comprehensive strategy to answer this question. We heard that survivors and nonprofits are seriously under-resourced to sustain pathways to coping. In response, the Foundation has established three pathways for individuals, government, businesses, philanthropies, and faith communities to use their dollars to support.

We invite you to participate in this three-part strategy to honor the lives of those murdered in Old National Bank and Chickasaw Park, to assist nonprofits that are helping survivors of gun violence, and to assist nonprofits working to reduce gun violence.

Pathway 1: Donate to provide direct cash payments to survivors of mass casualty crimes through a partnership with the National Compassion Fund (NCF)

• Survivors of the recent Old National Bank and Chickasaw Park events currently meet the criteria for assistance. Separate funds will be established to support survivors of each mass causality crime mentioned above.
• Love for Louisville Old National Bank Survivors Fund
• Love for Louisville Chickasaw Park Survivors Fund

Pathway 2: Donate to the Survivors of Gun Violence Recovery Fund

• The Community Foundation will issue grants to nonprofits providing assistance to survivors of multiple forms of gun violence. Donations are requested by June 30, 2023, to award grants through a grant process to be announced no later than June 1, 2023.

Pathway 3: Donate to the Community Safety and Healing Fund (CSHF) Gun Violence Reduction Initiative

• The Community Foundation will issue grants to nonprofits providing intervention, prevention, and advocacy to reduce gun-related homicides. Donations are requested by June 30, 2023, to award grants through a grant process to be announced no later than June 1, 2023.

The Community Foundation of Louisville offers these three pathways to increase access to resources to help those affected cope with the enduring trauma of senseless violence, and to support advocacy and the search for those changes in policy and other shifts to reduce gun violence in our community. We invite our current fundholders and other community members to join our Foundation staff in activating our privilege to make short- and long-term solutions possible.

For more information, visit www.cflouisville.org/gv-relief/.