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Nearly $2M Donated To Aurora Shooting Victim Fund

DENVER (CBS4/AP) - The film studio that released the Batman film playing during the Colorado theater shooting is among the donors that have given a total of nearly $2 million to a fund set up for victims.

The families of those who died as well as those who survived the shooting will have a tremendously long road ahead of them -- the struggle won't only be physical and mental, but financial.

The fund was set up to help victims of the theater attack and their families.

"We don't know for sure exactly how great the need is, but we know it's great, it's in the millions of dollars," Gov. John Hickenlooper told CBS4. "Some of these folks are very, very seriously injured. Some of the deceased victims have children who are going to need resources."

Hickenlooper said raising the funds is going to be a real challenge.

Warner Bros., which released "The Dark Knight Rises," gave an undisclosed amount to the GivingFirst.org fund. A donation also was made by Legendary Pictures.

A Colorado state release said Tuesday the fund had reached nearly $2 million. State officials did not say how much was donated by Warner Bros. or Legendary Pictures, and how much was given by individual donors.

"We have had calls from all over the United States coming in and some significant giving," Hickenlooper said.

Ed Bozarth Chevrolet held its own donation ceremony to give $50,000 to not only the victims, but Aurora's police and fire departments.

"It amazes me, the generosity that the city has shown to the victims, firefighters, police officers and first responders," Aurora Fire Chief Mike Garcia said. "I'm taken back. I really don't have the words for it."

Additional Resources

GivingFirst.org, Community First Foundation's online giving resource for Colorado, is "helping Coloradans find local organizations that are dedicated to the victims and families of the horrific July 20 shooting in an Aurora movie theater." The website features nonprofits that are supporting the victims and their families.

Don't miss a special hour long report on CBS4 on Friday at 4 p.m. titled "Movie Theater Tragedy: Remember, Honor Support" which will look back at the week following the Aurora shootings.

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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