Perry, Iowa – A tragic shooting at Perry High School on January 4 left the community reeling, with an 11-year-old student, Ahmir Jolliff, and the school’s principal, Dan Marburger, tragically losing their lives. In the aftermath, donors rallied, raising nearly $145,000 to support those impacted by the harrowing event.
Two funds were established at Raccoon Valley Bank in Perry – one for the Jolliff family and the other for the wider community, families, and students affected by the shooting. However, due to state regulations, a new account was set up by the Perry Community School District, with a third-party appointed to manage the funds and determine eligibility for assistance.
Appointed fund administrators, Lou Hoger, Joseph Shelly, and Donna Emmert, are faced with the challenging task of identifying those who witnessed the shooting or its aftermath and experienced physical or emotional harm. The process involves submitting applications by July 15, followed by interviews to evaluate each individual’s eligibility for financial support.
Hoger emphasized the complexity of assessing emotional harm and stressed the importance of understanding the underlying pain and fear that can manifest as anger in such traumatic situations. The community remains hopeful that the fund distribution process will bring unity rather than division, ensuring that contributions benefit those most in need.
Concerns have been raised about the application and interview process, prompting flexibility and understanding from the fund administrators. While allocation amounts cannot be determined until after the application deadline and interviews are completed, the community is urged to support the healing and recovery efforts by contributing to the One Perry Recovery Fund.
With approximately $20,000 raised for the Jolliff family, steps have been taken to authorize the disbursement of those funds. As the community continues to heal and rebuild in the wake of the tragedy, Raccoon Valley Bank has closed the funds, symbolizing a new chapter of recovery and support for those affected by the Perry High School shooting.