Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding
Last Updated Feb 2011
The Fund for Civility, Respect and Understanding has been created by the Ron Barber family to sustain and build upon the outpouring of good will, compassion and kindness that was the community's response to the tragic events in Tucson on January 8, 2011. Ron Barber, Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's district director, was shot twice and is on the road to recovery and healing.
The fund will support nonprofit programs or organizations that work to help heal the many wounds that were inflicted on January 8, will honor those who lost their lives or were injured physically and emotionally that day, and will pay tribute to the first responders and citizens who came to their aid.
The fund will support nonprofit programs or organizations to ensure that individuals who are not eligible for payments from government and private funding set up for shooting victims will have the resources they need to address the emotional trauma that they endured as participants in the Congress on Your Corner event.
The fund will support nonprofit programs or organizations that sponsor discussions and other activities in public schools, faith communities and in the political arena. The fund will also support nonprofit programs or organizations that support concerts and artistic events.
These programs will promote civil discourse regarding public policy issues and respect for different points of view. In schools, they will work with students to encourage understanding and to address the causes and outcomes of bullying. Concerts with national and local musicians will play an important role in building the fund and in healing and unifying our community.