United For Waukesha Community Fund to start distributing funds to affected families this week

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) - The United For Waukesha Community Fund is getting ready to distribute funds to the families affected by the Christmas parade tragedy.

This Giving Tuesday is especially important for our community. The Fotsch Family in Waukesha County is matching your donation through Dec. 4. They have pledged to match up to a million dollars.

"So, just an incredible opportunity for someone sitting at home who can give five dollars or fifteen dollars or fifty dollars," Amy Lindner said. "We want to make sure every family gets what they need here."

Amy Lindner is the president and CEO of the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County. She anticipates the first round of funds to be given this week to the six families who lost a loved one in the parade.

"To make sure they can take care of any immediate bills," she said.

In the coming weeks, that money will also be given to those who were injured or impacted in some way. The United For Waukesha Community Fund has put together a team to work on how to best distribute the funds to everyone impacted.

"Obviously there are a ton of GoFundMes, anybody who wants to give that way can, but what you do end up seeing happening is some families get a ton of support and some do not, and so we want to make sure every family who needs our help can get our help," Lindner said.

Although close to $2 million has been raised so far, there are still more than 60 families that will likely need help for months to come.

"We know there's one little boy with a traumatic brain injury. We don't know yet what that's going to look like for that family and that's one of dozens and dozens of families," Lindner said.

"It's going to be a drop in the bucket for those that really have substantial needs, so that's why we're really trying to raise as much as we can," Shelli Marquardt said.

Shelli Marquardt is the president of the Waukesha County Community Fund. She said more than 10-thousand people have donated so far from all 50 states and 15 countries.

"Every gift makes a difference. We've had gifts from $5 up to a million dollars now and we know those things add up and are going to make a big difference for the community," Marquardt said.

To donate to the fund, click here.