Some Pulse nightclub shooting survivors call for criminal investigation into onePULSE Foundation
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Survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting are calling for a criminal investigation into the onePULSE Foundation.
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They are not happy with the way the foundation is handling the property.
Some are now demanding complete control over the future of the memorial.
Families of victims and survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting believe their pain is being used to profit the wrong people.
Read: 49 scholarships awarded in honor of the Pulse Nightclub victims
Survivors like Tiara Parker are demanding an investigation into the onePULSE Foundation.
The nonprofit was created after the mass shooting that killed 49 people and injured 53 others.
Plans to build a new memorial are still up in the air after the foundation announced it was unable to reach an agreement for the property donation.
Watch: onePULSE Foundation founder says Pulse donation holdout was business partner, silent investor
Some survivors want the memorial to stay on site.
In a statement, onePULSE Foundation founder and former member Barbara Poma said, “While I recognize and respect these individuals’ grief, that should not serve as a free pass for intentionally spreading lies about us. It is hurtful, undeserved and helps no one.”
Read: onePULSE Foundation founder Barbara Poma steps down from organization
A spokesperson for the onePULSE Foundation also released the following statement:
“The onePULSE Foundation respects the solemnity of today for those who have lost loved ones. However, the claims made today about the Foundation are untrue and misinformed. The onePULSE Foundation publishes its audited financial statements and 990 on its website, a practice it has adhered to every year since its inception. Furthermore, the Foundation is proud to carry a Gold Seal rating in Guidestar, a rating that less than five percent of nonprofits registered with the agency hold. Guidestar evaluates the financial transparency and accountability of nonprofits worldwide.”
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