GoFundMe – News Stories About GoFundMe - Page 2

George Floyd Campaign
Makes History on GoFundMe

Jun 5, 2020 8:52 AM CDT

George Floyd Campaign Makes History on GoFundMe

It counts most individual donations of all time

(Newser) - It’s a record. In just over a week, the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund has received the highest number of individual donations of any GoFundMe campaign, a spokesperson tells TMZ . To date, $13 million has been raised by some 478,300 individuals in 125 countries. The fund "is...

Bullied Boy
Wanted to Die,
Celebs Rallied
to His Defense

Feb 21, 2020 12:35 PM CST

Bullied Boy Wanted to Die, Celebs Rallied to His Defense

Hugh Jackman, Enes Kanter among them

(Newser) - "Give me a knife, I want to kill myself," a 9-year-old boy with dwarfism sobs in a heartbreaking video shared Tuesday by the boy's mother in an effort to raise awareness about bullying, which she says he suffers daily. Quaden Bayles of Queensland, Australia, is hopefully feeling...

In Florida Tragedy, It's Death by BB Gun

Teen Killed by Accidental
Shot From BB Gun

Feb 11, 2020 1:21 PM CST

Teen Killed by Accidental Shot From BB Gun

Police investigating incident in Florida

(Newser) - Family members of a 17-year-old boy killed with a BB gun are demanding answers of the man whose 8-year-old son fired the fatal shot. Ivan Johnson, 17, died Feb. 4, three days after he was accidentally shot in the left eye, according to police in Tampa, Florida. Johnson was riding...

Family Was Hanging Christmas Lights When Tragedy Struck

He Was Hanging Christmas
Lights. Then, 'Help Me, Help Me'

Dec 4, 2019 1:23 PM CST

He Was Hanging Christmas Lights. Then, 'Help Me, Help Me'

$50K raised following Texas father's fatal fall

(Newser) - Nearly $50,000 has been raised for a Texas family who will be missing a beloved member this Christmas. Felipe Gallegos of Rhome was hanging Christmas lights from the roof of a home in Argyle with his 17-year-old son when he fell Saturday. His wife, Alisha Flick, heard a noise...

After Eye-Popping Duke Upset, a Player's Family Benefits

First a Basketball Stunner.
Then Stunning Generosity

Nov 27, 2019 11:22 AM CST

First a Basketball Stunner. Then Stunning Generosity

Donations pour in for Nathan Bain's family

(Newser) - In what the AP calls a "shocker for the ages," the unranked Stephen F. Austin managed to beat No. 1 Duke 85-83 Tuesday night. Nathan Bain was the hero thanks to his layup at the buzzer during overtime, a shot he had to traverse nearly the full court...

$15K Raised for Cat
Who Went Through Wash

Jun 26, 2019 10:45 AM CDT

$15K Raised for Cat Who Went Through Wash

'Miracle cat' Felix faces weekslong recovery

(Newser) - Animal lovers should send positive vibes to Felix, a 1-year-old tabby cat who survived a 35-minute ride in a washing machine last week—but barely. His Minnesota owner, Stefani Carroll-Kirchoff, says the cat must've jumped in her open washing machine as she turned her back to grab more clothes...

Notre Dame Fire Spurs Help for Our Own Churches

After Notre Dame Fire, a Call
to 'Send Love' to Louisiana

Apr 17, 2019 10:45 AM CDT

After Notre Dame Fire, a Call to 'Send Love' to Louisiana

$1.1M raised to rebuild black churches gutted by arson

(Newser) - Less than 24 hours elapsed between President Macron's call for donations to rebuild Notre Dame and nearly $1 billion being pledged, reports Time . In comparison, a nearly week-old campaign seeking funds to rebuild three historically black churches destroyed by arson in Louisiana within the last month had raised only...

After Parents
Disowned Her,
Queer Eye Fans
Raise $90K

Apr 9, 2019 7:41 AM CDT

After Parents Disowned Her, Queer Eye Fans Raise $90K

Jess Guilbeaux is going back to school, thanks to help from strangers who saw her on 'Queer Eye'

(Newser) - When a GoFundMe was set up for Jess Guilbeaux, the goal of $100,000 for the 23-year-old— whose story of being disowned by her adoptive parents after they discovered she was gay appeared on Netflix's third season of Queer Eye—seemed far off. Now that crowdfunding initiative has reached...

There's a Wild Battle Happening
on GoFundMe Right Now

the rundown

Mar 29, 2019 9:24 AM CDT

There's a Wild Battle Happening on GoFundMe Right Now

Rival campaigns raising funds in support and opposition of a proposed SF homeless shelter

(Newser) - It's not every day that the GoFundMe team donates to a GoFundMe campaign—and that's just one unusual element of a battle playing out on the platform. It started with a campaign called "Safe Embarcadero for All" —one that is seeking to raise $100,000 to...

Homeless Man,
NJ Woman Admit
GoFundMe Scam

Mar 7, 2019 4:06 AM CST

Homeless Man, NJ Woman Admit GoFundMe Scam

They pleaded guilty to federal charges

(Newser) - A homeless man and a New Jersey woman who scammed more than 14,000 kind-hearted people with a fake story on GoFundMe are facing time in federal prison. Johnny Bobbitt, Jr., 36, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit money laundering and 28-year-old Kate McClure pleaded guilty to conspiracy to...

Patton Oswalt
Got Trolled on
Twitter. His Troll
Is Now 'Humbled'

Jan 25, 2019 1:02 PM CST

Patton Oswalt Got Trolled on Twitter. His Troll Is Now 'Humbled'

Comedian directed fans to donate money to sick man's GoFundMe

(Newser) - A Twitter troll went after Patton Oswalt—and the comedian managed to turn it into one of the most uplifting stories of the week. It started Wednesday, when Oswalt made fun of President Trump on Twitter , which provoked snarky reactions from 64-year-old Michael Beatty, including saying he was happy Oswalt'...

Border Wall GoFundMe Donors
Getting Their Cash Back

Jan 13, 2019 8:09 AM CST

Border Wall GoFundMe Donors Getting Their Cash Back

Brian Kolfage's campaign falls short of the $1B mark, triggering refunds, but he's not done yet

(Newser) - The 340,000 people who sent their cash to one of GoFundMe's top fundraisers ever will be getting a refund. As Mashable reports, Air Force veteran Brian Kolfage's campaign to privately fund President Trump's border wall racked up $20 million—a giant sum by the site's...

Homeless Vet in
GoFundMe Scam
Arrested

UPDATED

Jan 9, 2019 4:34 PM CST

Homeless Vet in GoFundMe Scam Arrested

Johnny Bobbitt reportedly skipped out on court appearance, was arrested Wednesday

(Newser) - A homeless veteran charged with engaging in $400,000 GoFundMe scheme has been taken into custody in Philadelphia after he failed to make a scheduled court appearance, the AP reports. Johnny Bobbitt was due in a New Jersey court Tuesday to face charges he violated court-ordered conditions that allowed for...

Teen Shot in
Own Home Wants
GoFundMe to
Help Her Move

Dec 27, 2018 8:40 AM CST

Teen Shot in Own Home Wants GoFundMe to Help Her Move

'I have not felt safe while at home,' writes Myonna Lanton of Detroit

(Newser) - The family of a Detroit teen who was injured by gunfire that struck her home is looking to move—and they've taken to GoFundMe to assist in that effort. Myonna Lanton, 14, survived the Oct. 14 ordeal, in which someone shot at her house while she was watching TV...

All Money Refunded in
Alleged GoFundMe Scam

Dec 25, 2018 11:15 AM CST

All Money Refunded in Alleged GoFundMe Scam

Donors who gave money to help homeless man get it back after criminal charges brought

(Newser) - Anyone who fell for the tale of the down-on-his-luck Good Samaritan on GoFundMe has gotten their money back. The crowd-funding website says it has refunded all of the more than $400,000 that came in from more than 14,000 people, reports People . Police have since charged Johnny Bobbitt Jr....

Campaign to Fund Trump's Wall
Is in GoFundMe's Top 5 Ever

Dec 21, 2018 6:03 AM CST

Campaign to Fund Trump's Wall Is in GoFundMe's Top 5 Ever

Brian Kolfage has raised millions for the border wall, though it's not clear if DHS can take it

(Newser) - An Air Force veteran who started a GoFundMe page to help fund construction of President Trump's border wall has already raised millions of dollars, the AP reports. The crowdsourcing page launched this week by Brian Kolfage has a fundraising goal of $1 billion and had generated more than $11...

College Athlete
Was Disowned
for Being Gay.
Now, Good News

College Athlete Was Disowned for Being Gay. Now, Good News

NCAA waives donations rule so Emily Scheck can accept money to help her pay school, living costs

(Newser) - When Grace Hausladen started a GoFundMe for her friend and Division I cross-country teammate Emily Scheck, it was for one reason: to raise money for tuition and living expenses at Buffalo's Canisius College after Scheck's family disowned her in August upon finding out she had a girlfriend. The...

GoFundMe Scam: Lawyer
Plays Tape on Woman's Behalf

Nov 19, 2018 11:25 AM CST

GoFundMe Scam: Lawyer Plays Tape on Woman's Behalf

Katelyn McClure's lawyer says she was duped by her boyfriend

(Newser) - Last week, New Jersey prosecutors dropped a bombshell : that the heartwarming story of a homeless man who helped a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas with his last $20 was a scam cooked up to generate money via GoFundMe. Now, the lawyer for that woman says she was tricked into...

Cops: Couple, Homeless Man
Cooked Up GoFundMe Scam

UPDATED

Nov 15, 2018 3:04 PM CST

Cops: Couple, Homeless Man Cooked Up GoFundMe Scam

'The entire campaign was predicated on a lie'

(Newser) - A feel-good tale of a homeless man using his last $20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman buy gas was actually a complete lie, manufactured to get strangers to donate more than $400,000 to help the down-and-out good Samaritan, a prosecutor said Thursday. As expected , Burlington County prosecutor...

Was Touching Story of
Helpful Homeless Man a Scam?

Nov 15, 2018 6:35 AM CST

Was Touching Story of Helpful Homeless Man a Scam?

Johnny Bobbitt to face charges along with NJ couple, NBC Philadelphia reports

(Newser) - It’s not only the founders of a disputed GoFundMe campaign that raised $400,000 for a homeless man who find themselves in hot water . NBC Philadelphia reports Kate McClure, Mark D'Amico, and Johnny Bobbitt will face charges of conspiracy and theft by deception for allegedly concocting a false...