Fund started for kids of club fire victims

WEST WARWICK, R.I., July 20 (UPI) -- A fund set up by the owners of a Rhode Island nightclub to pay for the education of the children of those killed in a fire has split survivors and families.

Diane Mattera of Warwick told the Boston Globe that her grandson, who lost his mother, and the other children do not "need the murderers' help." Mattera's surviving daughter, Michelle Hoell, thinks the families should accept help from the fund launched by Jeffrey and Michael Derderian.

"It does stink that the Derderians opened up this thing and they look like heroes now," Hoell said to the Globe. "They're definitely not heroes. But some of the money is coming from people who are donating generously."

Tammy Mattera-Housa was one of 100 people killed in the Feb. 20, 2003, fire at The Station, which was started by special effects used by a rock group. The Derderian brothers pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter last year, and Jeffrey Derderian was sentenced to community service and probation and Michael Derderian to four years in prison.

The fund to help educate the 76 children orphaned by the fire was co-founded by Jody King, whose brother, a club bouncer, died in the fire, the Globe said.

The families started their own fund after the fire to assist survivors with physical and emotional therapy.