The Rebuild Palm Springs fundraiser benefitting businesses and homes damaged by the May 17 car bombing at a fertility clinic surpassed $100,000 on Wednesday.
Two civic groups — the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood Association and Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club — pushed the campaign over the edge, with contributions of $10,000 and $2,400, respectively.
The donations were some of largest contributions to the effort, which was started by a handful of local business owners and has been going on for about a week. Another large contributor, Modernism Week, contributed $5,000 just before Memorial Day weekend.
The two organizations presented checks to Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte on Wednesday at Palm Springs Liquor, a business that sustained major damage and is next door to the fertility clinic targeted by the bomber.
The Old Las Palmas neighborhood is directly across the street from where the bomb went off in the parking lot of American Reproductive Centers, and holds many of the businesses damaged in the blast.
“With so many of the members being in the footprint of our neighborhood, we realized it made sense for us to take a lead on (the donations),” said Tim Schoeffler, vice-chair of Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs and board member for the Old Las Palmas chapter.
Costs for replacing lost personal belongings will also be eligible for reimbursement. During the check presentation, deHarte said the cost of repairing the damage to all buildings would exceed $500,000.
“The intent from day one is to be able to reimburse up to 50% of the damage,” he said.
To help accommodate that goal a new target of $250,000 has been set.
More info on how to donate can be seen at tinyurl.com/RebuildPalmSprings.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Over $100,000 raised in Rebuild Palm Springs fundraiser after bombing, but more needed
Reporting by Sam Morgen, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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