Over $150M in Funds Distributed Since 2014. Learn More

About

Our Mission

Mass Violence Survivors Fund The experience communities need The experience survivors trust 100% of donations to survivors

The Mass Violence Survivors Fund is a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization which collects and distributes charitable contributions in the aftermath of mass violence. The Survivors Fund offers a victim-centered, trauma-informed, and transparent way to manage donations.

From Orlando to Las Vegas, and El Paso, and beyond, our team has helped dozens of communities, large and small, steward hundreds of millions of dollars in donations and disburse them directly to the survivors most directly impacted by the crime.

Our Services

100% of donations are distributed to survivors.  No percentage of funds are diverted to cover administrative expenses.  Administration of a fund requires a financial sponsor to cover administrative costs so that 100% of donations go to survivors.  The cost of administration varies based upon the projected size of the applicant pool. 

 

Distributing 100% of donations to survivors requires two pieces of information: first, the total amount of funds that have been donated, and second, the number of verified survivors who will receive funds in each category of eligibility (generally, death, injury, and psychological trauma).  A fund may receive millions of dollars in charitable contributions, but it can take months for those donations to be received.  Depending on how quickly our services are engaged, it takes approximately five months to complete the process from fund creation to final distribution.

Meet our team

Board of Directors

Marc Lenahan

Board Chair

Marc C. Lenahan has been representing victims of crime and catastrophic injuries for over two decades, always with the goal of turning pain and injustice into hope for all of us. Along the way, he has served as President of the National Crime Victim Bar Association and achieved groundbreaking and record-breaking accomplishments for victims of crime and severe injuries. Marc is the owner of the Lenahan Law Firm (DallasSevereInjuryLawyer.com), headquartered in Dallas; he is licensed in Texas, North Dakota, and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia; he has represented clients on five continents; he’s litigated under international laws and the laws of many states on behalf of clients who were the victims of international terrorism to clients who lost a loved-one to interstate 18-wheeler collisions. Marc served as Board Chair of the National Compassion Fund from 2018-2023, as it administered relief funds for victims of mass violence. In every instance when the Mass Violence Survivors Fund is called to deploy, Marc offers to come to the community personally as soon as possible to discuss how we’ve helped before, and how we can help again.

Mary Jo von Tillow

Treasurer

Mary Jo von Tillow is retired from her 40 year career as a senior vice president with Bank Of America.   Mary Jo is an advocate for victims of mass violence. She’s a survivor and widow from the Route 91 mass shooting in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017.   Mary Jo resides in Newport Beach, California and has two adult children and two grandsons.

Keith S. Franz

Board Member

Keith Franz has devoted his legal career to assisting victims of catastrophic events throughout the United States. For that effort he was awarded the prestigious Frank Carrington Champion of Civil Justice Award by the National Crime Victim Bar Association in recognition of his work as Lead Counsel in Federal Court for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Keith provides considerable pro bono assistance for important social causes, including the Mass Violence Survivors Fund. He previously served on the Board of the National Compassion Fund. Keith is a partner in the Baltimore firm Azrael, Franz, Schwab, Lipowitz and Solter, LLC (azraelfranz.com) and is admitted to practice before the Maryland Bar, the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Bethzaida Garcia

Bethzaida has a master’s degree in Counseling from the Ana G. Mendez University and a Baccalaureate Degree in Social Work, Psychology and Education from Turabo University.  Bethzaida currently work for the Osceola County Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services as a Public Education Coordinator.  Bethzaida is part of the Florida Emergency State Resource Team and graduated from Homeland Security/FEMA as a Master Public Information Officer and FBI-LEEDA Media and Public Relations. 

Bethzaida served as the County Liaison to assist the families and survivors of the Pulse shooting and the Coordinator of the Hurricane Maria Reception Center that assisted more than 15,000 people that were displaced from Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands as a result of the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.  Bethzaida served as a Victim Advocate for the Osceola County Government to assist the Pulse incident at the Family Assistance Center (MARC) at Camping World and served the survivors and families of the 49 Angels that we lost that fatal day of June 12th. 

Bethzaida has been recognized by the Governor of Florida, Telemundo, Univision and other organizations with different awards and public recognitions as an exemplary leader that goes way and beyond to help the community.   

Philip Gerson

Philip M. Gerson is a board certified civil trial lawyer who has practiced law in Miami, Florida for more than 50 years. He is a cum laude graduate of the University of Miami Law School, where he was a member of the editorial board of the Law Review, a Moot Court winner and student instructor in legal research and writing. Mr. Gerson serves on the Board of Directors at St. Thomas University School of Law. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Victims of Crime, and served on the Board of the National Compassion Fund.

Bill DiMaio

Bill DiMaio is a community leader and General Manager of an automotive dealership in Eatontown NJ. He serves on the board of the Mass Violence Survivors Fund to honor the memory of his son, Billy DiMaio, who was killed in the New Orleans Terror attack of January 1, 2025, and to help others who may endure a similar tragedy.

He leads the Billy DiMaio Foundation, who mission is to support individuals, families, and communities across the U.S. impacted by mass violence. He also serves on the board of the Fourteens Foundation, which was formed to create and sustain a permanent memorial that honors the 14 lives lost, families, injured survivors, the community and recognize the first responders to the New Orleans attack.

Brett Rigas

Brett Rigas is a Non-Profit Operations Leader who oversees multiple clinic locations. With expertise in healthcare operations, outreach, and program development, Brett focuses on expanding access to HIV prevention services and strengthening community partnerships. He advocates for health equity and LGBTQ+ community initiatives.

A survivor of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre, Brett lost his partner, Frank, in the tragedy. This experience continues to shape his commitment to advocacy, community healing, and ensuring that marginalized communities have access to compassionate, culturally competent care.

Dion Green

Dion Green is the Founder/CEO of Flourishing Under Distress Given Encouragement (FUDGE), a nonprofit that helps survivors through traumatic experiences with resources and support. The FUDGE Foundation seeks to support individuals on their journey of grief and healing from traumatic events by delivering support services and advocacy locally and nationally.

Dion survived the mass shooting on August 4, 2019, in Dayton, OH, which killed his father, Derrick Fudge. Dion did not let grief consume him; instead, he transformed his sorrow into a powerful movement for healing and systemic change. Dion is a prominent advocate against gun violence, actively engaging with communities across the nation that have been profoundly affected by this pressing issue.

He serves on the Board of Felons with a Future, which aims to assist those with criminal records in reintegrating into society, as well as Upturn Ohio, an organization focused on promoting justice and equality.

Mr. Green possesses an MBA in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School, complemented by a minor in Entrepreneurship. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from DeVry University. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist in the State of Ohio, Mr. Green is actively pursuing a Master’s in Social Work at Lancaster Bible College, advancing his commitment to making a meaningful impact in the community.

He is a proud two-time recipient of The Dayton Daily News 2021 Community Gem, a testament to his unwavering commitment to the Dayton Community and its surrounding areas. His accolades, including The Coretta Scott King Legacy Award, The NASW Agency of the Year, 2025 Miami Valley Peace Award, and the Community Hero Award, reflect his profound impact. The articles celebrating his work inspire others as he tirelessly helps communities heal.

Taryn Horton

Taryn Horton’s husband, David Horton, was killed in a mas shooting in Albertville, AL, on June 15, 2021. She served on the Steering Committee for the Survivors Fund for Victims of the January 1, 2025 terrorist attack in New Orleans. Taryn remembers the people who were there to help her following her tragedy, and she wants to be that person for others. She lives in Midland, TX.

Tom Hoyer

Tom Hoyer is a seasoned executive and public safety advocate with a 38-year career spanning diverse industries, including 23 years in CFO and CEO roles. Since the loss of his son, Luke, in the 2018 Parkland school shooting, Tom has dedicated himself to practical public safety reform to address mass shootings in schools. He currently serves as Treasurer for Stand With Parkland, a non-partisan advocacy group focused on school safety, and previously served on the Support Surfside Steering Committee that oversaw the allocation of donations following the Surfside condominium collapse. A proud father of three, one of whom is now an angel in heaven, Tom blends his extensive work experience with a deeply personal commitment to school safety and community resilience.

Jeffrey Dion

Executive Director

Jeffrey Dion has championed crime victims’ rights for nearly three decades. Dion began advocating for victims at the age of 14, when in 1982 his 23-year-old sister, Paulette, was murdered by a serial killer. He went on to pursue a career in law to help other crime victims. In honor of his sister’s memory, Mr. Dion lobbied the Virginia General Assembly, resulting in 13 victims’ rights bills being enacted into law. He joined the National Center for Victims of Crime in 1998 and also headed its affiliate, the National Crime Victim Bar Association. While at the National Center, he co-founded the National Compassion Fund and served as its Executive Director 2014-2023. He has administered 30 relief funds for victims of mass casualty events which have collected and distributed more than $150 million to survivors. He is a nationally recognized expert with strong ties to direct service providers and leaders in the field of victim services. In 2007, the United States Department of Justice presented him with the Ronald Wilson Reagan Public Policy Award for Outstanding Service in Crime Victim Legislation.

Haley Ziegler

Director of Finance

Haley Ziegler is a dedicated non-profit administrator with over 8 years of experience in the victim services field. Haley previously served as the Finance and Administrative Coordinator for the National Compassion Fund. She primarily focuses on donation collection and fund distribution for MVSF the general operations of NCF.

Shannon May

Victim Services Specialist

Shannon May is a victim services professional with over twenty years of experience providing direct services to victims of crime, delivering training and technical assistance, and managing national initiatives. Ms. May previously served as Mass Violence Relief Specialist for the National Compassion Fund, serving victims of mass casualty crimes. As Project Manager for the FBI’s Victim Services Division, Ms. May managed numerous law enforcement-based victim assistance projects, and led working groups aimed at improving federal agencies’ response to victims in tribal nations. She also responded on-scene and via FBI Command Post to numerous mass violence incidents, and served as back-up handler for the FBI’s Crisis Response Canines. While at the FBI, Ms. May served on detail as Acting Associate Director of the Federal, International, and Tribal Division with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime. Prior to joining the FBI, Ms. May worked on Prison Rape Elimination Act implementation efforts; supported the development of Sexual Assault Response Teams; served as Resource Delivery Manager for the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center; and was National Hopeline Network Director for a federal suicide prevention grant.

Dan Levey

Team Lead

Dan Levey is a Team Lead for the Mass Violence Survivors Fund. Dan has previously served as the Executive Director of the National Organization of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc. (POMC). Levey also previously served as the Director of the Office of Victim Services at the Office of Arizona Attorney General, the Advisor for Victims to Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. He served as a Mass Violence Relief Specialist for the National Compassion Fund. Levey has been a dedicated advocate for victims’ rights since 1996 when his brother Howard was murdered. Levey’s focus has been to change and improve public policy concerning the treatment of crime victims and their families, and he has been involved in crafting numerous pieces of victims’ rights legislation. Levey has received several awards for his victim advocacy including the United States Attorney General’s Ronald W. Reagan Public Policy Award, through the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, which honors individuals whose leadership, vision, and innovation have led to significant changes in public policy and practice that benefit crime victims.

Javier Nava

Survivor Specialist

Javier Nava is a Survivor Specialist for the Mass Violence Survivors Fund. He was shot and wounded in the attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016.  Following subsequent incidents of mass violence, he reached out to survivors to offer comfort and support. In so doing, he discovered his strength and compassion for helping others.  He previously served as a specialist for the National Compassion Fund, assisting survivors of the condominium collapse in Surfside, FL, and mass shootings in Uvalde, TX, and El Paso, TX.

Anita Busch

Co-founder

Anita Busch, a co-founder of the Mass Violence Survivors Fund, was inspired to act on behalf of victims after her cousin, Micayla was murdered in the Aurora, Colorado theater shooting in 2012 along with 11 others and an unborn baby. 

She has assembled a broad network of survivors of scores of mass casualty crimes, and used her skills as a journalist to interview and gather information from families of the deceased, those who suffered serious physical injuries, and those who survived with psychological trauma, on what well-intentioned communities did that either helped or harmed victims. The insights from those directly impacted, informed a Best Practices Protocol for Mass Casualty Crime which has been shared across the country by politicians, communities and survivors to prevent the re-victimization of those directly impacted. 

She was a co-founder of the National Compassion Fund, and has also worked behind the scenes on multiple mass casualty crimes, helping victims and survivors find resources and is working to help set up a long-term care plan. Busch is also the media consultant for the No Notoriety campaign, founded by Caren and Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, died saving his girlfriend in the Aurora theater shooting. The campaign urges the media, law enforcement and politicians, for the sake of public safety, deny mass shooters the notoriety they crave and instead elevate the names of the heroes, victims and survivors.