On Sunday, June 12 at 2:02 A.M. lone gunman Omar Mateen opened fire inside Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
He killed 49 patrons and injured 53 others in one of the deadliest shooting sprees in U.S. history. Mateen was shot and killed by police after a three-hour standoff.
Following the massacre, the city of Orlando quickly helped organize the non-profit OneOrlando Fund to handle the millions of dollars being donated to help the victims. That fund has so far doled out $29.5 million and was set to distribute another $1.3 million before shutting down at the end of the March.
In March, the U.S. Department of Justice announced an $8.5 million anti-terrorism grant to help people affected by the Pulse nightclub massacre. The money will provide mental-health counseling to victims, witnesses and first responders and will help reimburse the costs of the United Assistance Center, the one-stop help center set up at Camping World Stadium immediately after the shooting. The grant was from the DOJ’s Anti-terrorism Emergency Assistance Program and crime victim’s office.
One year after the massacre at Pulse nightclub, a series of events have been planned for Monday, June 12 to commemorate those who lost their lives, which local governments plan to dedicate as “Orlando United Day.
Described as “A Day of Love and Kindness,” the daylong schedule of remembrances is the result of a collaboration between Orlando, Orange County and Pulse.
“Our community will never forget the tragedy of Pulse or the grief of those who lost loved ones,” Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said in a video posted to at OrlandoUnitedDay.com. “From heartbroken family and friends to survivors putting shattered lives back together, our entire community stands with you.”
A slate of events, beginning at 10 a.m. on June 12 and continuing until midnight, will be hosted by local governments and Pulse, the gay club at 1912 S. Orange Ave. that has sat empty as an informal memorial since the shooting.
In Pittsburgh, the Delta Foundation has invited Brandon Parson to Pride to sing “Forty-Nine Times,” a song he wrote following the tragedy.
The city and county are also encouraging people, both locally and across the world, to perform acts of kindness on June 12 “to continue the unity that followed the tragedy” at Pulse.
Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who has helped guide the city’s June 12 plans with the input of Pulse survivors and the LGBT community, said the day’s themes will center on love, kindness and unity.
“We don’t want to focus on an act of terror; we want to focus on how we all came together,” she said. “That’s really what made it bearable for these families—the love and support from this community.”
Stanley Almodovar III, 23, a pharmacy technician whose kind sassiness put people at ease.
Amanda Alvear, 25, at the club with her best friend, Mercedez Marisol Flores, also killed.
Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26, had just returned from Niagara Falls with partner Simon Adrian Carrillo-Fernandez, who also died.
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33, was passionate about saving lives and worked at OneBlood, a blood-donation center.
Antonio Davon Brown, 29, an Army Reserve captain who served in Kuwait.
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29, a financial-aid officer at Keiser University, co-chair of a Jaycees clothing drive for the homeless.
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28, a nurse and National Guard member from Puerto Rico whose boyfriend was injured in the shooting.
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25, a beloved supervisor for a hospitality services company.
Luis Daniel Conde, 39, was at Pulse with Juan P. Rivera Velazquez.
Cory James Connell, 21, called the “superhero” of his family, worked at a supermarket and attended college.
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25, an ambitious, driven director of a Michigan marketing firm.
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32, known as Dee Dee, was working at the nightclub.
Simon Adrian Carrillo-Fernandez, 31, a McDonald’s manager who loved to travel, died with his partner, Oscar Aracena-Montero.
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25, an apartment leasing agent who took care of his mother and dated dancer Xavier Rosado.
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26, who wanted to be a party planner, went to the club with her best friend, Amanda Alvear, also killed.
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22, a UPS worker who was always the life of the party.
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22, recently came out to his family; died with his boyfriend, Christopher Leinonen.
Paul Terrell Henry, 41, a Chicago native, had two children, earned a master’s degree in business and played piano and organ despite never taking lessons.
Frank Hernandez, 27, who loved fine fashion and worked at a Calvin Klein store, was at Pulse with his boyfriend, who survived.
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30, father of three who managed four restaurants and a catering business.
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40, a salesman and makeup artist at Gucci who was proud of his Latino heritage.
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19, called his mother in Arizona as the gunman opened fire.
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30, an accountant who texted his mother while he was held hostage.
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25, started dancing at age 10, moved to Orlando from Puerto Rico to dance and choreograph professionally.
Christopher “Drew ” Leinonen, 32, was at the club with his “soul mate,” Juan Ramon Guerrero, also killed.
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21, an outgoing young man who’d recently moved from Cuba and was working to master English.
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49, loved to dance so much that she would go to clubs with her son, Isaiah Henderson, who survived.
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25, was an only child and “the light and the life of all the family gatherings,” his cousin said.
Kimberly Morris, 37, a bouncer at the nightclub who recently moved to Orlando.
Akyra Monet Murray, 18, graduated third in her high-school class and was a 1,000-point scorer for her basketball team.
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20, an outgoing Starbucks barista.
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25, of Puerto Rico, was in Orlando for a Selena Gomez concert.
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36, married his husband last June 26, the day the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32, a construction worker who loved to dance.
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35, a doting uncle who died with his partner, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon.
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25, visiting from Brooklyn, N.Y., studied social work and had a heart for helping the elderly.
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27, who was from Puerto Rico, had purchased his first home not even two months prior.
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24, a banker who had just been promoted at work.
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35, elegant dancer and loving father to a little boy, dated victim Leroy Fernandez.
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24, a mother of two who was out with her husband, and friend Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, who also died.
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34, an energetic man who worked as a cruise promoter.
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33, a charismatic lead singer who performed with his band at a nightclub before going to Pulse.
Martin Benitez Torres, 33, one of dozens of victims originally from Puerto Rico, was working to become a pharmacy technician.
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24, worked on the Telemundo talent show “La Voz Kids.”
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50, was a visual merchandiser for a clothing store who also was known for Puerto Rican Jibaro folk dancing.
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37, owner of D’Magazine Salon and Spa who moved from Puerto Rico and was a hair stylist and makeup artist.
Luis S. Vielma, 22, loved his job at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios.
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37, frequented Latin Night at Pulse with his longtime partner, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, who also died.
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31, worked at Walt Disney World, most recently in merchandising on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
