Colo. victims' families question fundraising

Tom Teves, at podium, group spokesman of the families of the victims of the Colorado theater shooting, speaks during a press conference in Aurora, Colo., on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012. / AP Photo/Chris Schneider

Updated 5:43 p.m. ET

(CBS News) Family members of the victims in last month's Colorado theater shooting went public with their anger Tuesday afternoon over how a coalition was handling $5 million raised in their names.

Speaking on behalf of relatives of the 12 people shot to death and 58 injured at the midnight screening on July 20, Tom Teves - father of victim Alex Teves - accused nonprofits Giving First and the Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance (COVA) of poor leadership and politics that has prevented them from having a say in how the money is distributed.

"This is the worst thing that has ever happened in any of our lives. All of our loved ones are either dead, injured," said Teves. "They never maybe the same again, and we have to stand up and fight for the money that say Warner Brothers gave in our behalf. You, everybody that I've spoken to said 'We can't comprehend how you're feeling'. Guess what? You're right. You can't comprehend how we're feeling."

Of the just over $5 million that has been raised by the Aurora Victims Relief fund, $450,000 has been distributed, according to the Community First Foundation website. Of that, $350,000 went to COVA in order to give $5,000 to each of the 70 victims' families. The leftover $100,000 was distributed to 10 nonprofits.

The families gave accounts of behind-the-scenes red tape and bureaucracy they have endured since a gunman dressed in body armor and a mask opened fire at a crowded movie theater in Aurora.

Alex Teves, 24, was killed while protecting his girlfriend. His father expressed frustration with how Giving First used the pictures of murdered loved ones without permission to reel in money that hasn't reached the victims' families. He also called on Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper to do more to help them.

"You pledged 12 times, 'We will remember.' Are you a man of your words? Or were they just words?" he said.

A spokesperson from Hickenlooper's office said a meeting with victims' families and the 7/20 Recovery Committee is scheduled Friday and more money from donations is on its way to those families.

"Everyone involved is trying to do the right thing in a very difficult situation," said spokesperson Eric Brown. "We understand the frustration shared today by victims' families. That's why we have been advocating for them to have a greater voice in the process. We have also actively supported the 7/20 Recovery Committee to improve communication and the ongoing distribution of assistance."

Among the teary-eyed people on stage were those who lost loved ones and others who were taking care of their injured sons and daughters. Relatives said they needed the money for things like paying for travel to Aurora, to help pay the bills when victims were unable to work and medical expenses.

23 Photos

The Aurora shooting victims

"Nobody's trying to get rich," said the mother of Jorell Brooks, who was shot during the rampage. "We just want to be able to get through this thing with some sort of dignity."

Marla Williams, president and CEO of the Community First Foundation, said the committee is doing its best to reach out to victims, but communication has been difficult due to a court order sealing documents. She also said the committee is working to add a representative of the victims' families.

"I appreciate the frustration," Williams said. "Given the circumstances, I'm not sure [the process of distributing funds] could have moved a whole lot faster."

The suspect in the shooting, 24-year-old James Eagan Holmes, is charged with murder and attempted murder and two other counts.

Police said Holmes was heavily armed when he opened fire on the audience in a packed theater in the Denver suburb of Aurora during a showing of the latest Batman movie.

Holmes is being held without bail and has not entered a plea. Defense lawyers have said he is mentally ill.

At the press conference, the victims' families also expressed frustration about how Holmes was getting more attention in the media than the victims were. Teves only referred to him once, calling him "the coward."

[Ulgnud]

How is it these people think they are entitled to millions of taxpayer dollars without some sort of accountability. This is for compensation for loss and injury. Not winning the lottery.

[expatriate2]

This is not tax money, it is donated money.

[sadiedog1]

i wondered when the greed would start .

[americalove1]

I totaly agree about the non profits. It's been reported numerous times how little benifit the intended recipients get. Most of the money goes to those running the non profits.

However, I personaly was very put off by the remarks made by the relatives, as reported. They want it all!??? Like Akin, perhaps they should have chosen some different wording. It came across as nothing but greedy to me, like people looking to become instant millionaires.

while I do understand about bills, I also reaize that a) several probably did have life insurance. b) Since I'm sure there wil be lawsuits out of this, and settlements, any bis woud be turned over to their attorneys, I'm sure.

There is no amount of money that could bring back a loved one. That's why I'm pretty darn sure I woudn't be standing up there saying, We want all of it! To help healing? How is money going to help healng?

[americalove1]

sorry, hit post too fast before checking spelling.

[william02138]

I didn't donate to this but I've donated to similar causes. When I give money to the victims of a disaster, I want them to get that money. Maybe they don't have a "right" to that money, but I have a right for them to get what I gave them.

It's easy to donate $100 and just assume it went where it was supposed to go. It really helps if the intended beneficiary can look out for themselves and make sure they actually get the gift. They're helping us help them. We shouldn't call them "greedy" for trying to prevent the middleman from keeping 93% of our gift!

[djseavy]

I went to Hattiesburg MS for a month after Katrina, and what I saw made me angry. The most prominent (by their own advertising) "charity" wasted money like it was being printed in the back room. When Rushford MN was flooded out a couple of years ago, that same organization wouldn't accept personal hygiene kits from a public donor because the kits didn't have their famous emblem on them. People brought clothes to be donated - the organization told them "Take them to Goodwill." And this organization is supposed to be there for the benefit of the victims. Yet, if it doesn't advertise their cause, they will see to it the donated items never see the light of day. I'm glad they nearly went broke after Katrina. My hope is they eventually go permanently broke after all the disgusting behavior I saw from their people.

[taxchurches]

Money for what? The film-makers didn't kill anyone and are in no way responsible for what happened. Stupid society.

[lillyhorton]

People donated a lot of money and the people who lost a loved one or who was injured by Holmes is announcing that the money is being with held. People who donated money feel ripped off because they are unfamiliar with not for profit organizations.

[Oh_REALLY_Chum]

Oh boo hoo!!!!

[lillyhorton]

I know how you feel but maybe you could have toned it down.

[Molly-Pchr]

It's only been a month. It needs some oversight, but how can this be going on already?

[BurningQuestions]

This story is almost identical to the run-around survivors of the Bastrop County Complex Fires in Texas are getting. Almost 1,700 homes were destroyed in a blaze 25 miles wide that burned for almost a month. There was a massive influx of donation dollars sent on the behalf of the thousands of people made homeless as a result of the fire.

Many charities have sprung up over the past year but there are very few fire survivors who've seen a penny of assistance. Why? We're told we don't quality for the donated funds. We're thinking we do qualify and that the only qualification that really matters is that we lost our homes as a result of the fire. I, personally, am still homeless 360 days later and I've applied for assistance from every advertised source. So have many, many others but help ain't happening.

Meanwhile, the charities are getting new office quarters, salaried employees, equipment, publicity, lots and lots of public attaboys, and all sorts of nice things. The locals who 'volunteered' their time in the days immediately following the fire were paid way above minimum wage for their participation. The county seat has gotten pretty new streetlights and Christmas decorations. We're landscaping intersections and putting up fancy signs to let people know there might be chickens on the road. When you're homeless, these nice touches really mean a lot, let me tell you. What they mean, though, is probably not what you're thinking.

My personal experience has taught me to never again contribute to an 'organized' charity. When I want to help somebody, I'm going straight to the person in need. I don't believe in charitable organizations anymore.

I commend the families mentioned in this article for their speedy response to a very bad handling of other people's money. I wish we'd moved a little faster in Bastrop County. Finding where all the money went is becoming quite a task since it's gone unaccountable for almost a year now.

Good luck to you all. You're in my thoughts and in my prayers.

[john92021]

Same thing happened to me when I got burned out. I had someone hand me $100 in a restaurant and that is the way I will help someone else.
These do gooders are doing really good financially, bankrupt morally.

[endrepubs]

How many of these victims families had life insurance policies? I suspect the young adults and teenagers didn't have any life insurance, but anyone over the age of 25 should have had life insurance. Term life policies are really cheap when you are young.

[kthor123]

those money is as good as gone ... check the offshore account of the CEO of nonprofits Giving First and the Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance (COVA), there you will find $5 million dollars alone Romney's other accounts

[jgnv]

"So far, just over $5 million has been raised and $450,000 distributed"

I can't begin to imagine the heartache and financial burden these families are dealing with, so it is particularly disgusting to learn that only a small fraction of the donated $5M has been distributed to those who need it the most.