Waukesha parade donations near $2M; anonymous trio puts up memorial tree in Veterans Park

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Nearly $2 million dollars has been raised, by the Waukesha County Community Foundation (WCCF), for victims and families of the Waukesha Christmas parade tragedy.

The incident is uniting both Wisconsinites, and people across the world.

"Since last week we've had about $1.9 million dollars in donations already received," said WCCF President Shelli Marquardt.

Marquardt explained that these donations have come from people in all 50 states and 14 countries.

Today, Monday, Nov. 29, organizers will start discussing how to get the money to those who need it.

"The initial correspondence I would expect to come out later this week, but I would say the first important categories are going to be those that have had deceased members and those that have been hospitalized," she said.

A memorial continues to grow at Veterans Park in Waukesha.

"It's such a senseless tragedy," said resident and father Michael Plante.

Michael Plante took his 6-year-old son Levi to the Christmas parade last week. This morning, the two paid their respects at Veterans Park.

Plante says they're working toward closure.

"Everyone does parenting differently but I came down here just to teach my son the power of prayer," said Plante. "Pray for everybody, pray for everything that's happened. Pray for everything, you know?"

Just steps away from the crosses and candles sits another memorial.

This morning, a trio of Waukesha residents put up a Waukesha Strong holiday memorial tree to help others heal. The men wanted to remain anonymous.

"The hearts represent the tragedy on one side, with the broken heart with the pain that we've gone through, and on the other side is a solid heart which represents coming off stronger and whole," said one of the men.