missing women cleveland may 2013.jpg

A display of celebration is visible Monday at the intersection of West 110th Street and Lorain Avenue outside the Burger King where Amanda Berry worked 10 years ago and was last seen until she, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight were found on May 6.

(Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A charity established to help Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight has raised more than $480,000, and the money will now go into four trust funds established for the victims.

There have been more than 5,100 donations to the Cleveland Courage Fund through the Cleveland Foundation and Key Bank, said Lynne Woodman, vice president of media relations for KeyBank. Donations have come from all 50 states and several foreign countries, she said.

KeyBank is providing free financial counsel to the victims. Christopher Kelly, a partner-in-charge of Jones Day law firm, and Tom Stevens, vice chair and chief administrative officer of KeyBank, are co-advisers to the fund.

"None of the organizations involved is taking any administrative fees or other compensation," Stevens said in a news release. "We are delighted to serve as advisers to help ensure that Gina, Michelle and Amanda are able to use the money for their well-being, not just for today, but for years to come.

How to donate

• People wishing to donate to the Cleveland Courage Fund, established to help kidnap victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, can do so online at clevelandfoundation.org or by mailing a check to the Cleveland Courage Fund, c/o Cleveland Foundation, 1422 Euclid Ave., Suite 1300, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.

• Also, donations may be made at KeyBank branches in Northeast Ohio or mailed to the bank's headquarters at Cleveland Courage Fund, c/o KeyBank, 127 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114.

• Cards, letters, well-wishes and donations of goods can be dropped off at the Family Ministry Center, 3381 Fulton Road, Cleveland. The drop-off location is open through June 22. Donations will be accepted at the south entrance of the church from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and on from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Gift cards to department stores or for other services are suggested as a possible donation.

SOURCE: Plain Dealer research

City Councilman Matt Zone announced the creation of the Cleveland Courage Fund on Wednesday, moments after DeJesus returned to her home on Camden Avenue. Zone created the fund along with council members Donna Brady and Brian Cummins.

Questions arose, though, because money donated to the fund did not go directly to the victims. Instead, money was to go to selected nonprofit organizations, which then would offer assistance to the victims and their families

Sandra Miniutti, vice president of

, a group that monitors charitable organizations nationwide, says this setup is not unusual. CharityNavigator gives the Cleveland Foundation a

, the highest available.

"We're confident the Cleveland Courage Funds are a legitimate, effective and appropriate vehicle for accepting these donations," Jim Wooley, a Jones Day lawyer speaking on behalf of the survivors, said in a news release.

Cummins said earlier this week that the response to efforts to help the victims has been encouraging. He said council members have received emails from groups and individuals offering services such as free dental care, furniture, and health and beauty needs.

Wooley said the best way to help the victims is to donate money to the Courage Fund "to take care of immediate needs, such as medical care and counseling."

Cummins said council members were in contact with representatives working closely with the families trying to best determine how to help.

"Everyone that I've worked with ... everyone has the absolute best intentions," Cummins said.