Our Mission & History
The mission of The Crime Victims Fund is to promote public safety and assist victims and their families. The Crime Victims Fund was established in 1982 to provide direct assistance and services for crime victims; support evaluation and research on victimology, and to promote public safety. We address the immediate needs of crime victims who are on a low- or fixed- income. We work together with law enforcement, prosecuting attorneys, victim assistance advocates, social service agencies, schools, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, institutions and others to help meet the enormous needs of victims nationwide. This requires local fundraising.
The concept of The Crime Victims Fund Emergency Victim Assistance program was created nearly 30 years ago. It is a private victim/vendor stipend program that was created in response to the urgent needs of victims of crime as identified by a cross-range of community helpers. Prior to the Emergency Victims Assistance program, police officers, deputy sheriffs, social workers, lawyers and sometimes even judges, concerned and touched by the plight of families they’d encounter daily, would dip into their own pockets to help ease the victim’s immediate pain. To fill this gap in community services, a social worker named Beverly DiGregorio, Executive Director of the YMCA and Associate Justice William L. Todd, Jr. of the Fourth District Court of Appeals partnered to establish The Crime Victims Fund, a nonprofit charity. In 2011, our mission remains the same. Our organizational goals are:
- To mitigate the suffering of crime victims
- To increase the range and availability of services to victims
- To enhance public sensitivity to the plight of the victim
- To promote public safety from crime
The Crime Victims Fund has dispensed over $1.6 million in victim assistance to more than 10,000 crime victims in San Diego County over the last 28 years. This year we expand nationally to working with victim assistance advocates throughout the United States to help victims. See how you can help! Click Contact Us!
Crime Victims Fund Introduction Video
“Just wanted to say thank you so much for the continued assistance you provide our clients. The Crime Victims Fund really makes a huge difference. The San Diego community is so lucky to have your services.”
