Donations to the 13 Turpin siblings of Perris continue trickling in nearly a month after their plight was discovered.
At least $455,100 has now been raised by three funds set up on the siblings’ behalf in the cities where they were initially treated at hospitals and the city where they were living when law enforcement agents rescued them after one, a 17-year-old girl, escaped through a window and called police.
Their parents, Louise and David Turpin, were arrested and charged with a combined 75 felonies, including torture, abuse and false imprisonment. They have pleaded not guilty, and their next scheduled court appearance is a routine hearing Feb. 23.
The most donations so far have gone to the Perris Sibling Support Fund set up by the Riverside University Health System Foundation. It had collected at least $275,000 by Thursday, said foundation Executive Director Erin Phillips.
A fund set up by the Corona Chamber of Commerce has raised almost $180,000, including about $6,500 in a Jan. 31 fundraiser at area restaurants, said Corona Chamber Foundation President Don Williamson, the chamber’s finance chairman.
The most recent effort to help the siblings is a scholarship fund, announced Feb. 1 and recently renamed the Perris Inspires Fund, that was established by the city of Perris and Mt. San Jacinto College, where the oldest Turpin son once took classes.
About $100 has been donated so far, said college spokeswoman Karin Marriott.
“We hope that people remember these children will need ongoing support for a very long time to come,” she said. “We want to provide some funding so they get some educational support to help with their futures.”
Investigators say some of the children have suffered nerve and cognitive damage because of prolonged, severe malnutrition.
Officials at Mt. San Jacinto College and the city of Perris don’t know how many of the 13 siblings would be able to go to college if enough donations were raised.
For information or to donate
Perris Sibling Support Fund: Go to ruhealth.org/foundation, email marketing@ruhealth.org or mail checks to RUHS Foundation, PO Box 9850, Moreno Valley, CA 92552.
Corona Chamber fundraiser: Go to mychamber.org, call 951-733-1836 or mail checks to Corona Chamber Foundation, 904 E. 6th St, Corona, CA 92879.
Perris Inspires Fund: Go to msjc.edu/foundation or call 951-487-3171.
