How Can Long Beach Help Boston Bombing Victims?

We may be 3,000 miles away, but anyone in Long Beach, or anywhere else in the country, can easily help support those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings - financially or by giving blood.

And the attack at the Boston Marathon, and its aftermath, are reminders that we need to help our own communities by being CPR-trained either in-person or online, the local Red Cross noted this week.

"Recent events in Boston and Texas emphasize the importance of knowing what to do when an emergency occurs," wrote Guillermo Sanchez, public information officer for the Red Cross Long Beach chapter, in a news release.

"Even as first responders rushed into help at both scenes, much of the initial care to the injured was provided by friends, neighbors and bystanders who were trained in CPR and first aid," Sanchez wrote. "Whether the emergency is community-wide and involves numerous injuries, or involves a single individual being hurt at home, it is vital that someone close by knows what to do when such an emergency occurs.

“Getting yourself and your family more prepared for disasters can bring peace of mind during trying times and can help save someone’s life during future emergencies,” said Margaret Arbini Madonna, CEO of the Greater Long Beach/Rio Hondo Chapter.  “Taking an action like downloading our first aid app, taking a first aid class or building a disaster supply kit can help people feel empowered to act when disaster strikes.”

Set up to financially aid the bombing victims, the One Fund Boston had received more than $7 million in donations by 5 p.m. on Wednesday. The non-profit fund was announced by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick on Tuesday after Monday's tragic events.

More than 8,500 individual donors have made donations totaling $500,000 through the OneFundBoston.org website, according to a city official. Donating directly to the website is the best way to contribute to help those most affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.

Attorney Kenneth Feinberg, considered one of the world’s most foremost experts on victim compensation, will work pro bono as the administrator of The One Fund Boston. Feinberg is scheduled to come to meet with Menino on Friday about the fund, will design and administer the fund completely without compensation. 

Feinberg has worked with helping victims of some of the biggest tragedies in recent American history. He was appointed by the U.S. Attorney General to administer the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, and was appointed by President Obama to administer the BP oil spill fund in 2010. He also designed and administered compensation funds following the mass shootings in Aurora, Colo., and at Virginia Tech.

He is a native of Brockton, Mass., a UMass-Amherst graduate and currently serves as chairman of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation’s Board of Directors, according to a press release.