Healing Charlottesville
The Heal Charlottesville Fund was founded in response to the white supremacist attacks in Charlottesville in August of 2017. Throughout the summer, Charlottesville was terrorized by white supremacists and Ku Klux Klan members, culminating in two days of violent clashes and a car attack. Our community was deeply saddened by the loss of Heather Heyer, Lt. H. Jay Cullen, and Trooper Berke Bates.
A generous outpouring of support resulted in the creation of three funds: Heal Charlottesville, Concert for Charlottesville, and Unity Cville. These funds are housed at the Community Foundation and coordinated their work to help injured individuals, ensure trauma counseling services for the community, and address the impacts of structural racism.
Donations to the Concert for Charlottesville Fund came from a combination of merchandise sales, fan donations from around the world, and individual and corporate contributions. The Concert funds have been the primary source of all of the donations from Heal Charlottesville.
Support for the Injured
Funds from the Foundation have been distributed to individuals who were injured by or witnessed the car attack. $600,000 has been distributed to help individuals fill gaps where they have expenses due to injury and loss of income.
Trauma Counseling
Our community was hurting after the traumatic summer of 2017. Various populations were specifically targeted by the violence, racist and anti-Semitic chants, and intimidation tactics of the white supremacists.
Support for the Jewish Community
Members of the Jewish community were also traumatized by the events of August 11–12. We worked with Jewish leaders to identify investments that would be meaningful and ensure their community felt safe and valued.
Grants to Address Structural Racism
An important part of healing is providing opportunities to take action. Grants have been made to advance work that addresses the deeper, structural causes of exclusion and marginalization.
Our community is deeply saddened to have lost three lives on August 12, 2017. To honor the memory of those individuals, the Heal Charlottesville and Concert for Charlottesville funds made gifts to:
- Heather Heyer Foundation for scholarships
- Virginia State Police Foundation to assist the Cullen and Bates families
News About Heal Charlottesville
Over $2.1M Received by CACF for Rally Healing
The Daily Progress, August 24, 2019
As Trial Begins In Charlottesville Protest Death, Community Reflects
NPR, November 26, 2018
Healing Our Charlottesville
Michigan Chronicle, August 8, 2018
Counter Protesters Are Still Healing, Still Fighting
The Daily Progress, August 6, 2018
$1M in Heal Charlottesville Grants Awarded
The Daily Progress, June 28, 2018
CACF to Award $1 Million in Grants in Response to Aug. 12 Rally
NBC 29 News, June 27, 2018
Thank You to Contributors
We are extremely grateful to all who responded to the events of last summer by making a generous financial gift. Please find the complete list of contributors here. More than 3,000 people have contributed to the Heal Charlottesville or Concert for Charlottesville funds. We received gifts from across the country, from individuals and businesses alike, and at all levels of giving. The Charlottesville community is deeply grateful for your overwhelming show of support.