‘It is astonishing’: More than $2 million raised so far for victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy – USA TODAY

Cathy Kozlowicz and Alex Groth| Milwaukee journal sentinel

After an SUV drove into the Waukesha Christmas Parade on Sunday, killing six and injuring more than 60, the community has stepped up to help in a big way.

In the week since then, people from across the country have contributed at least $2 million to victims and other efforts in a variety of ways, including GoFundMe accounts, local fundraisers and more.

Donations have been flooding into the United for Waukesha Community Fund, which was set up shortly after the tragedy.

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Since Sunday, the United for Waukesha Community Fund received roughly$1.8 million, with 7,000 individual donors.There have been donors from all 50 states and from 12 countries.

The biggest donor was GE, at $100,000.Kohl's, the Walbec group and American Family Insurance Dreams Foundation each donated $50,000, a representative from the Waukesha County Community Foundation verified.

As of Friday,more than $1 million had also been raised for victims under the umbrella page that includes 29verified GoFundMe pages.

The GoFundMe for the Sparks family has raised the most, with$428,498pledged as of Friday. Tucker Sparks,12, is recovering froma fractured skull and roadrash.His brother,Jackson Sparks, 8, died Nov. 23 as a result of his injuries.

Four other accounts raised more than $100,000, while six others have raised more than $50,000.

Culver's of Waukesha donated 50% of its Wednesdayproceeds to the Xtreme Dance Team, whichhad many members sustaining injuries from the Waukesha Christmas Parade Tragedy.

Aqueue of cars snaked around the outside of the Culver's building on Grandview Boulevard, blocking a lane of traffic.

"I didnt expect this," saidWaukesha Xtreme Dance Team director Sandy Feller.

Culver's on Grandview raised$28,000 for thedance team.

The Culver's Waukesha locations on Sunset Driveand East Main Street togetherraised $44,000.

"Customers were out the door and through the lobby. Not a single customer complained. The drive-thru was wrapped around the building and down the street," said Kyle Soderstrom, the owner of the Culver's on Grandview.

"For us, this was more about grieving and coping than the financial part of it. To sit down and talk with parents and the dancers. I can tell you that the dance team loved the outpouring of support," Soderstrom said.

At Coop, a downtown restaurant that is donating all of its Nov. 26 proceeds, a line formed even before the restaurant opened, said owner Joseph Fifnaios. It is great and heartwarming. People were lined up and ready to go inside by 7 a.m. It was astonishing."

Jersey Mike's Subsraised $18,000 Nov. 24 between its two Waukesha locations, donating 100% of its proceeds to help those affected by the Waukesha parade tragedy.

"It was pretty awesome to see the community turn out in the way they did," said owner Tim Downing."It is a great reminder to meas to why I do what I do, which is to be an active business in the communities that my stores are a part of and to enhance the lives of others through a sub sandwich."

"It was very inspiring and humbling to see theamount of people show upthat didto support our efforts to support the community," he said.

The restaurant donations all went to theUnited for Waukesha Community Fund.

Numerous other fundraisers by local businesses continue to raise money for victims.

Contributing: Sarah Volpenhein

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @kozlowicz_cathy.

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'It is astonishing': More than $2 million raised so far for victims of the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy - USA TODAY