How you can help Apalachee High School shooting survivors, families
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Students and faculty gather on the field at Apalachee High School to mourn and celebrate the lives of school shooting victims who died Sept. 4. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images
Corneliu Caprar wasn't surprised to learn his friend and teacher Cristina Irimie brought a cake to class last Wednesday so she could celebrate her birthday with her students.
Though it's a Romanian tradition where the birthday person organizes celebrations and gives out goodies, Caprar said Irimie, who was one of four people killed in last week's mass shooting at Apalachee High School, always held space in her heart for her students.
- "How many times have you had the teachers doing that for you?" he asked.
Driving the news: Caprar and the church he attended with Irimie, Saints Constantine and Helen Romanian Orthodox Church in Lilburn, are raising money to support the math teacher's family.
- Irimie, 53, was heavily involved in their church and the Romanian immigrant community in Atlanta, Caprar said. He told Axios he recently learned that Irimie saved another student's life by pushing them out of the way of the alleged gunman.
The latest: A viewing for Irimie will be held 4-8pm Friday at Hamilton Mill Memorial Chapel and Gardens, with the funeral set for 2pm Saturday at the same location.
- The church will host a memorial meal at 4pm Saturday following the service.
The big picture: The account for Irimie is one of several GoFundMe campaigns that have launched within the last week to help families of those who died and survivors who are recovering from their injuries.
- Flo Tefteller, who is organizing a fundraiser on behalf of the family of shooting survivor Natalie Griffith, said the 15-year-old is in "good spirits" and remains strong.
- "She's looking at the positive…and she's looking forward to her future," she said.
Catch up quick: Irimie, along with teacher Richard Aspinwall, 39, and 14-year-old students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, were killed and nine others were injured on Sept. 4 when 14-year-old Colt Gray used an "AR-platform-style weapon" to open fire inside the school.
- The teen is charged as an adult with four counts of felony murder.
- His father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, is also charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two of second-degree murder and eight counts of cruelty to children.
The bottom line: Caprar told Axios he hopes people will remember Irimie for her dedication to her students and her willingness to use her weekends to provide dance lessons or math tutoring.
- "If you do that on Sundays or in your free time, that means that you love kids," he said.
- Tefteller said Griffith is determined to return to Apalachee High School where she is a member of the school's band.
- "Despite the tragedy, angels have been coming forward in many forms," she said. "It's really nice, and parents are really grateful."
How to help: GoFundMe accounts have been created to help the families of Mason Schermerhorn, Richard Aspinwall, Christian Angulo and the other victims who survived the shooting.
- You can also donate to the Barrow Community Crisis Fund.