How These Celebs Are Aiding Las Vegas Victims

In the wake of the Las Vegas shooting, which left 59 people dead and hundreds more injured, some celebrities have been stepping forward to help victims and their families — people still raw with grief and shock and in need of assistance.

Some of the cast members of the 2004 hit movie “Mean Girls,” for example, helped with a GoFundMe effort for the National Center for Victims of Crime, which has raised money for victims of tragedies such as 9/11 and the Aurora and Pulse nightclub shootings in the past.

All the money raised via this effort will go to the victims of the Las Vegas concert shooting.

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“After Sunday night’s tragic events in Las Vegas, let’s give back,” said actress Amanda Seyfried in a video on the campaign’s fundraising page. The cast tied its efforts to October 3, which has been called on social media “‘Mean Girls’ Day” — and asked fans to each give $3, so that $300,000 could eventually be raised.

Thus far, the campaign has raised over $60,000. Other cast members to take part in the video were Lacey Chabert, Daniel Franzese and Jonathan Bennett.

Another GoFundMe page created by Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak has received donations from many Vegas stars, such as former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson, who now has a show at the MGM Grand in the city. He donated $10,000.

The DJ duo The Chainsmokers also donated $10,000. They have a residency at The Wynn Las Vegas, and in a post to Facebook described the city as a second home. “We are totally devastated by [the] tragedy in Las Vegas. This city is a second home to us, and the people of Las Vegas are our family. We have everyone in our prayers that is in any way affected by the shooting,” they wrote.

Related: Country Stars Express Sorrow, Offer Prayers After Concert Massacre

The money from the fundraising campaign will go to victims and victims’ families; the campaign page also encourages people to donate blood, food and water. With a $10 million goal, the effort has raised over $8.5 million.

Singer Kid Rock also donated $10,000 to the effort, and the Oakland Raiders and the NFL Foundation football team reportedly made a $50,000 donation.

Terry Fator, who has a puppet show at The Mirage, donated $10,000 and dedicated a song titled “The Prayer,” which he sings nightly in his act, to the victims.

The Vegas Golden Knights, the Foley Family Charitable Trust, and the National Hockey League (NHL) will also jointly give a donation of $300,000.

UFC President Dana White announced to TMZ he is donating $1 million to victims. “This is my city,” he said, adding that his business, friends and family are all located in Las Vegas. White said he will either divide up the money to give to various causes or he will give a single lump sum to one organization.

Related: John Rich on Vegas Concert Nightmare: ‘An Attack on America’

Longtime Vegas celebrity Wayne Newton, known as “Mr. Vegas,” also donated $100,000 to victims. He wrote on Twitter, “Thank you to the First Responders of Las Vegas and all of the heroes who helped the victims during this horrific time. #PrayForLasVegas.”

Celine Dion, who has a residency in Las Vegas at The Colosseum inside Caesars Palace, dedicated her Tuesday night performance to victims of the attack, as well as to first responders. “We dedicate tonight’s show to all of the victims and their families, and to the first responders, and to the doctors and nurses who are working around the clock to save lives, and to so many heroes who did whatever they could to help complete strangers in a time of desperate need.” All profits from the show were donated to victims and their families.

In addition to financial donations, people have been trying to use their platforms and access for unique ways to help.

Celebrity Vegas chef Lorena Garcia announced through Twitter, for instance, that she’s offering free meals at her restaurant, Chica, to first responders until Thursday.

Mark Shunock, a Vegas actor and singer, partnered with the UFC to collect items at The Space for victims still in the hospital.

Country star Maren Morris released a song dedicated to victims called “Dear Hate,” which also featured Vince Gill. Morris had performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival over the weekend.

Related: Mike Rowe on Vegas Concert Tragedy: ‘You Are Not Alone’

“I wrote this song three years ago, recorded it last year with Vince Gill, and always have fans asking when I’ll put it out. I never knew when would be the right time, but I realized today that there’s never a right time,” Morris wrote on Instagram.

All of the money earned from the song will go to the Music City Cares Fund, set up to provide support to Vegas victims.

At a Monday concert at the Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, Tennessee, country singer Keith Urban performed Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” to honor the victims of the shooting.

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Charles Esten, Alison Krauss, and Vince Gill also joined Urban onstage to perform “Rest High on the Mountain.” The country stars asked for donations to be given to the Music City Cares fund.

(photo credit, homepage image: Anirudh Koul, Flickr; photo credit, article image: RepliCarter, Wikimedia)