Fundraising for victims of Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy surpasses $2M

The makeshift memorial near the scene of the Lapu-Lapu Day vehicle attack is seen on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (CTV News)

Fundraising campaigns launched for the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival attack in Vancouver have amassed more than $2 million, with donations continuing to pour in.

Various GoFundMe campaigns were initiated to raise funds for the families of the 11 killed in the days that followed the horrific event that shook Vancouver and sent ripples across the world. On Wednesday, United Way BC announced it had partnered with Filipino BC to launch a special fund of its own.

As of Friday morning, United Way BC’s Kapwa Strong Fund had raised almost $280,000.

Kim Winchell, United Way BC’s Chief Program and Impact Officer, said the two organizations are collaborating with other Filipino-led groups to support the community with “essential needs and services, trauma counselling, mental health supports, and other needs” as they arise in the aftermath of Saturday’s event.

“We also understand that the wider community, those attending the celebrations and those who responded, were also impacted,” said Winchell.

“United Way BC is committed to supporting the needs of all those affected, and we are working with local agencies to fill those gaps and needs.”

Understanding that the needs of those suffering in the wake of the attack are “great,” Winchell said the aid the funds will support may evolve over time.

“We know from our work in Emergency Response and Recovery that people are affected by disasters and traumatic events in different ways, and those needs may present in days, weeks, months, or years after the event,” she said.

“We are committed to providing support for the long term. Therefore, our goal is to raise what is necessary to support all those affected.”

Among the 13 verified GoFundMe fundraiser pages, now compiled into a centralized hub, are campaigns for a 16-year-old who lost his father, stepmother and five-year-old sister in the attack, a family hoping to return their deceased loved one to the Phillipines, a husband mourning the loss of his wife, and countless others who are recovering in hospital.

Another is raising funds for a program launched by Vancouver chefs and restaurant owners delivering to deliver meals to the mourning FIlipino community.

“Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver,” a spokesperson from GoFundMe said Thursday evening.

“We are working around the clock to help ensure the community receives the support they need.”

Sixteen-year-old Andy Le, who is suffering the loss of father Richard Le, stepmom Linh Hoang and younger sister Katie, released a video on social media Thursday thanking the public for their financial support.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much,” he said.

Le, whose campaign had surpassed $542,000 as of Friday morning, said he will donate $266,000 of his raised funds to other victims of the attack.

“I truly appreciate each and every one of you,” he said.