Survivors and families of Lapu-Lapu victims request meeting with United Way BC regarding $2 million Kapwa Strong Fund donations

Posted by ReyFort Media

Survivors and families of victims of the 2025 festival tragedy in Vancouver are asking to meet with United Way BC, the charity that administered the special fund raised from donations following the traumatic incident.

In a letter to United Way BC, Vanessa Hill spoke on behalf the people impacted by the attack and stated that that Kapwa Strong Fund was “presented as a coordinated community response intended to support survivors and families of victims”.

“We note that public charitable funds carry a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that donor intent, transparency, and equitable distribution are upheld,” Hill said.

However, “To date, many victims report receiving little to no direct financial assistance through the Kapwa Strong Fund.”

More than $2 million in donations were raised through the Kapwa Strong Fund, and around $500,000 were allocated to Filipino BC, organizer of the April 26, 2025 Lapu-Lapu festival.

United Way BC launched the Kapwa Strong Fund on May , 2025 and stated in a media release that the special fund will “support those touched by the traumatic events”.

“One hundred percent of donations to United Way BC’s Kapwa Strong Fund will directly support Vancouver’s Filipino community and those impacted by this tragedy. Proceeds will go towards mental health supports and trauma counselling, access to essential needs including meal and gas vouchers, events and spaces for community to connect and share resources, and more,” the charity said in its media release.

However, Hill noted in the letter a “misalignment between donor Intent and fund distribution”.

“It is our understanding that donations were made by the public in good faith, with the clear expectation that financial support would directly benefit victims and families affected by the tragedy.

“Instead, a substantial portion of funds appears to have been allocated to intermediary organizations and program-based initiatives rather than direct financial assistance to victims,” Hill said.

The letter also requests:

* A full and detailed financial breakdown of all funds received and disbursed under the Kapwa Strong Fund

* Identification of all recipient organizations and amounts allocated to each

* A clear explanation of the decision-making and governance process

* Documentation of how victims’ needs were assessed and incorporated into funding decisions

* A written account of what proportion of funds has directly reached victims and families

* A clear plan for any remaining funds, including timelines and distribution methodology

With respect to remaining funds, it may be recalled that on April 21, 2026, Vancouver-Kensington MLA Mable Elmore wrote United Way BC and suggested to the charity to ask organizations that received allocations from the Kapwa Strong Fund to returned unused or remaining funds in their possession.

Elmore recommended that United Way BC can give the unutilized donations to directly benefit survivors and families of victims.

Hill’s boyfriend Adrian Jonez (AJ) Sico suffered severe injuries from the 2025 attack. Sico needs continuing treatment and therapy, including medical intervention outside Canada.

Sico’s cousin Jendhel May Sico was one of 11 people who died in the festival tragedy last year.