FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 30, 2021
Contact: Heather Jones
publicaffairs@victims.ca.gov

California Victim Compensation Board Receives $3.9 Million to Help Victims of the 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting

SACRAMENTO—The California Victim Compensation Board was awarded a $3,954,899 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Antiterrorism and Emergency Assistance Program (AEAP) today to assist victims of the July 2019 Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting. The shooter killed three people and injured 17 others.

The AEAP grant provides funding until October 2022 and will help fund compensation provided by CalVCB. As of September 30, 2021, 666 victims and family members have filed claims and CalVCB has compensated them more than $247,000. Benefits provided to applicants include income loss, support loss to legal dependents of deceased or injured victims, medical expenses and mental health treatment.

“We are very grateful for OVC’s support to provide long-term assistance for the victims of this tragic event,” said CalVCB Executive Officer Lynda Gledhill. “This grant ensures that all the victims of this shooting and their families receive the help they need.”

The AEAP grant will fund the Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center (GSRC), which opened in January 2020. The GSRC provides a centralized place for victims to have their needs identified and get support. The GSRC will develop programming for direct and indirect victims, including psychoeducation, coping skills techniques training and social interaction, along with the development of an app that victims can use to schedule appointments and view event calendars.

The grant will also provide individual and group counseling services for victims and first responders diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD and increased use of substances.
Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting victims have until July 27, 2026, to file claims with CalVCB.

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The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) provides reimbursement for crime-related expenses to victims who suffer physical injury or the threat of physical injury as a result of violent crime. CalVCB helps crime victims and their families cover unforeseen expenses such as medical bills, mental health treatment, funeral and burial expenses, income loss and more. To learn more about CalVCB, visit victims.ca.gov.