Maine Attorney General Responds To National Nonprofit: Lewiston Mass Shooting

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Feb 3
3 min read

Updated: May 29

For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 January 2025

(National) (Update)

The One In Five Foundation For Kids has received communication from The State Of Maine Attorney General Office in regards to our foundations request for a review of the Maine Community Foundation's distribution of funds raised following the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine. We have highlighted key elements of that communication & while we remain wary of the following statement from the Attorney General, "As to the nonprofits who received funds through MCF’s Broad Area Recovery Fund, there were no legal restrictions on the use of the funds, they were free to use them at their discretion.," - We are thankful for the follow through and can only continue to seek that those nonprofits granted funds will utilize them appropriately for those victims still so in needs of ongoing care. The foundation will continue to follow the now recent review of Rogue Life Maine, as noted below...

The One In Five Foundation For Kids

254 206 9089

www.theuvaldefoundation.com

I write on behalf of the Attorney General in response to your request for a review of the Maine Community Foundation’s (“MCF”) distribution of funds raised in the aftermath of the Lewiston shooting tragedy. As a preliminary matter, the Attorney General’s Office acknowledges the lasting physical, emotional, and financial harm caused by this tragic event and remains committed to supporting crime victims and survivors.

We have thoroughly reviewed the issues surrounding solicitation and allocation of the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund raised by the MCF. We have not identified any legal concerns with MCF’s processes or distributions. As to the nonprofits who received funds through MCF’s Broad Area Recovery Fund, there were no legal restrictions on the use of the funds, they were free to use them at their discretion.

The Office is aware of the significant financial burden that many victims, survivors, and their families continue to face even after receiving monetary gifts from MCF’s Victims & Families Fund. The Maine Victims’ Compensation Program, administered by the Maine Attorney General’s Office, deployed to Lewiston the day after the shooting to help victims and survivors apply for the Program and has received 116 applications to date for reimbursement of uninsured, crime-related expenses.

Program staff are working with the Maine Resiliency Center staff to help victims and survivors access all of the known financial resources available to them, including other local charitable funds raised over the past fifteen months.

In 2026, Maine will become the second state in the country to offer longer-term financial assistance to mass violence victims and survivors through the Maine Mass Violence Care Fund. If you are aware of individuals who were present at either of the two scenes and have physical or psychological injury, or who lost a loved one, who need assistance with unpaid medical bills or mental health counseling expenses, please refer them to the Program at (800) 903-7882 or to Maine Resiliency Center.