7/20 Recovery Advisory Committee Chronology

July 20, 2012 The Century 16 Theater shooting. July 20, 2012 GivingFirst.org, Community First Foundation, announced their online giving resource called the Aurora Victim Relief Fund for Coloradoans to coordinate with local organizations dedicated to the victims and families of the horrific July 20th shooting. Nonprofits featured on GivingFirst.org that support the victims and their families include Aurora Mental Health Center, Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network, Mental Health America of Colorado, Bonfils Blood Center Foundation, Metro Crisis Services, Inc., Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance, and Denver Center for Crime Victims. July 21, 2012 Names of 12 deceased victims are released. July 22, 2012 Vigil was held at the Aurora Municipal Center (AMC) to honor the victims of the Century 16 Theater shooting. July 23, 2012 Judge William Sylvester issues a judicial order (gag order) directed at attorneys, law enforcement, and investigators to prevent release of any confidential information. July 26, 2012 $100,000 in matched funds were distributed from The Aurora Victim Relief Fund at Community First Foundation to 10 trusted Colorado nonprofit organizations serving the shooting victims and their families. The release of these funds was done so at the direction of the donors who had indicated they wanted their donations to go directly to these non-profits. July 27, 2012 A meeting of organizations and agencies actively involved in responding to the shooting is held. Those groups in attendance include COVA, COCern, Community First Foundation, Denver DAs Office, Denver Foundation, City of Aurora staff, and others. The group discussed efforts that were underway to ensure the immediate needs of the victims and the families were being met. Several members of the group shared their experiences in responding to similar tragedies, including Columbine. The group initially identifies itself as resource committee, and initially focuses on identifying the different funds, resources and services available to victims and families. August 1, 2012 This was the second meeting of agencies and organizations involved in responding to the tragedy, including new attendees from Gov. John Hickenloopers office and area schools. The group identified that many of their discussions were expanding beyond simply identifying and coordinating resources. The group drew on examples of other tragedies where community advisory groups had been set up to identify and prioritize the immediate and long term needs of victims. Those advisory groups included victim input and participation as crucial roles to the advisory committee, along with victim advocates, service providers, and non-profit foundations. The advisory groups included an executive committee to provide structure and process for the larger groups efforts. August 8, 2012 This was the third meeting of the advisory group. The group discussed the immediate and long term needs of the victims. Victim advocates indicate that victims are starting to identify broader needs for general financial assistance. The group discusses the idea of making a disbursement

from the Aurora Victim Relief Fund to victims based on this input. The group discusses how a similar disbursement has been made in other situation, including Columbine, to assist victims with meeting their immediate needs. The group identifies several areas for clarification including identifying an amount that would be sufficient to meet most of the immediate needs while still preserving the bulk of the funding for a more detailed analysis and disbursement. The group discussed potential structures for the committee including an executive board and subcommittees. August 15, 2012 This was the fourth meeting of the group, now identified as the 7/20 Recovery Committee. The committee voted to recommend that Community First Foundation make a disbursement of $350,000 from the Aurora Victim Relief Fund to COVA, for direct disbursement to 70 victims and families killed or wounded in the shooting. The Advisory Committee discussed the immediate and long term needs of the victims. Victim input was discussed. Subcommittee sign up sheets were handed out. August 16, 2012 The District Attorney requests Judge Sylvester to release the contact information of the 70 victims and families, so that COVA can make the disbursement of the funds. Judge Sylvester authorizes the release of the contact information to COVA, but only after each victim approves of their information being given to COVA. The Judge also enjoins COVA under the judicial order (gag order) regarding the disclosure of confidential information regarding the case. August 17, 2012 Victims and families are contacted by the District Attorneys office and begin authorizing the release of their information. The 7/20 Recovery Committee announces that a total of $350,000 dedicated to meeting some immediate financial needs was being distributed among the 70 victims who were physically injured or whose lives were lost in the July 20 shooting. The $350,000 was distributed from the Aurora Victim Relief Fund at Community First Foundation to the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance. August 22, 2012 This was the fifth meeting of group. The Committee discussed the immediate and long term needs of the victims. Victim input was discussed. Several members of the committee, including the City of Aurora and Community First provide an update on their efforts to identify potential members of the Executive Committee. The group discusses that they would like one of the first thing for the Executive Committee to do is set meetings with the victims and families. The committee discussed having a meeting with the area hospitals involved in treating the victims to discuss what could be done to minimize the bills, and coordinate a response to those bills that would not be covered by insurance or Medicaid. August 28, 2012 First meeting of the Executive Committee. August 29, 2012 This was the sixth meeting of the larger 7/20 Recovery Committee. The group discussed trying to simplifying the complex network of agencies and steps that victims have to go through in order to access some services. The group asks several of the key agencies to work together to draft a press release and communication for victims to assist them in navigating the system.

August 31, 2012 The Executive Committee met with a small group representing the families of the deceased victims. The Executive Committee sent invitations to the 70 victims and families for a meeting on Wednesday, September 5. September 4, 2012 Second meeting of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee met and continued to discuss the structure and process for the distribution of the fund. Staff shared updates from the prior week and plans for meetings scheduled with the victims and their families for the coming week. Communication strategies and responding to media concerns were also major agenda items. September 5, 2012 - The 7/20 Recovery Committee met with victims and their families. The second of three informational meetings with victims took place to discuss the distribution process and to encourage dialog on how best to obtain input from victims and their families. It was clear from the meeting there was a diversity of opinion regarding the potential outcome of the fund and that the most vocal families and victims do not necessarily reflect the greatest number of victims. After much discussion and answering of questions the group agreed next steps included a survey to be sent to all 80 victims that would begin the initial process of determining the opinions of the victims and how the money would be used and distributed. It was determined that the survey results would be processed and the information shared with victims and their families. September 7, 2012 The survey that would begin the initial process of determining the opinions of the victims and how the money would be used and distributed was sent by COVA to the 80 victims. September 8, 2012 The 7/20 Recovery Committee met with victims and their families on September 8, 2012. Participants were invited to the AMC and had the opportunity to get information and ask questions. Representatives were available from COVA, Aurora Police Department, Victims Compensation, Aurora Mental Health and the 7/20 Recovery Fund. Family members were able to visit with any or all of the representatives dependent on their needs and interest. It was an opportunity for a more intimate dialog with the executive committee members of 7/20 Recovery Committee. September 11, 2012 Third meeting of the Executive Committee included discussion of the following: The recent meetings with victims and family members that occurred on September 5 & 10, 2012 The 7/20 Committee structure including how victim input would be included through the victims representation council and representation in the Executive Committee Status update on the 7/20 Recovery Committee Survey sent to victims