Dayton unites to assist victims

Fund created Sunday already totals $620K; many ways to help.

Hearts and wallets are opening as Miami Valley businesses and institutions give residents ways to help in the wake of Sunday’s horror.

Friday, two c o mpanies announced donations of more than $175,000 to two shooting victim funds, including one created Sunday at the Dayton Foundation that had gifts from 2,800 individuals totaling more than $620,000.

Larry Connor of The Connor Group announced he was

donating $100,000 toward a goal of raising $250,000 in a relief fund he created aimed at helping victims and loved ones of the deceased.

“I think anything Dayton (-related) hits home to him, just because he’s a big believer in the city,” said Ryan Ernst, a partner in the firm. “But yes, that probably hit especially close to home, considering his history with the Oregon District.”

The Miami Twp.-based real estate investor once owned Newcom’s Tavern in the Oregon District, which fronts East Fifth Street and is very close to the scene of Sunday’s mass shooting.

“Dayton is our home,” Connor said in the fund’s announcement Friday. “And one of our company’s core values is ‘do the right thing.’ When you put together those two factors, we feel we have an obligation to help the people who were most affected by this tragedy.”

Connor is calling on other Dayton businesses, investors and community partners to donate. The beneficiaries of funds donated will be victims who were hospitalized overnight, along with the families of the deceased.

“We are confident we will reach our goal of $250,000 for this fund, and help these victims of this violence, hoping to ease financial burdens they may face in the weeks and months ahead,” Connor said.

The Dayton Daily News is partnering with the Dayton Foundation to raise money to help victims of the tragedy. The Dayton Oregon District Tragedy Fund at the Dayton Foundation is accepting online credit-card gifts as well as checks by mail.

“Our hearts are with them, and we ask you to help them rebuild their lives and our city,” said Rob Rohr, market vice president of Cox Media Group Ohio.

Molina Healthcare on Friday also announced a donation of $75,000 to the Oregon District Tragedy Fund. The business also offers a free, 24-hour nurse advice crisis line at 888-275-8750, which is available to Molina members impacted by the tragedy.

For people looking for more ways to help or connect, here are some of this weekend’s planned events:

■ Oregon District Hugs & Healing — A Walk Through The Oregon will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Sip, eat, shop, connect and get lots of hugs, too, at this event designed to bring people together.

■ On Sunday, a “trauma relief and healing workshop” will be free from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Brightside Music & Event Venue in downtown Dayton.

The workshop’s schedule includes the following free sessions:

■ 1:30-2:30 p.m. — Somatic Trauma Resolution with Anjali Brannon from Ayurveda Natural Health Center

■ 2:30-3.30 p.m. — Guided Relaxation and Meditation with Julie Bowen from Heartfulness Dayton

■ 3:30-4:30 p.m. — Yoga with BeTrice Casada

■ 4:30-5:30 p.m. — Pranic Healing with Felisha Beverly.

■ Troll Pub Dayton, 216 Wayne Ave., will host an event Sunday evening, at which happy hour specials will be available from 6-9 p.m., and the pub will be raffling off prizes to raise money for a victim relief fund.