INSIDER
Trump's campaign crowdfunded millions online in an untraditional approach to emergency relief
Read full article: Trump's campaign crowdfunded millions online in an untraditional approach to emergency reliefFormer President Donald Trumpโs campaign is using GoFundMe to rally its donor network around the survivors of his July assassination attempt and Hurricane Heleneโs destruction.
Man charged after stabbing neighbor to death, assaulting wife and daughter in Pontiac
Read full article: Man charged after stabbing neighbor to death, assaulting wife and daughter in PontiacAccording to the prosecutor, Timothy Legard, 50, fatally stabbed his neighbor Wednesday morning and sexually assaulted the manโs wife and young daughter.
Police seek information involving fatal shooting of Oakland County sheriff deputy
Read full article: Police seek information involving fatal shooting of Oakland County sheriff deputyThe Detroit Police Department is seeking assistance from the community regarding the fatal shooting of Oakland County Sheriff Bradley Reckling while in the line of duty.
GoFundMe says $30 billion has been raised on its crowdfunding and nonprofit giving platforms
Read full article: GoFundMe says $30 billion has been raised on its crowdfunding and nonprofit giving platformsGoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns have generated $30 billion since 2010, the fundraising platform announced Tuesday, as younger generations look beyond institutions to make their donations.
Legacy of teen killed in crash lives on through donation in Oakland County
Read full article: Legacy of teen killed in crash lives on through donation in Oakland CountyWhen 19-year-old Daziah Crawford was killed after an impaired driver hit her car, lots of people stepped up and asked what they could do to help the family.
Bills' Hamlin will put the millions raised into his charity
Read full article: Bills' Hamlin will put the millions raised into his charityBuffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin will use the $10 million given to online fundraising campaigns by well-wishers after his on-field collapse to fund his own nonprofit, the Chasing Mโs Foundation.
Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop matching up to $30,000 for student fundraiser
Read full article: Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop matching up to $30,000 for student fundraiserโThis year is the 30th Anniversary of the store and leadership decided that one of the best ways to celebrate is to make a donation that works toward the PTO Thrift Shop vision of a diverse and thriving community in which every Ann Arbor Public Schools student has equitable access to enrichment opportunities inside and outside the classroom,โ PTO Thrift Shop officials wrote in a release.
GoFundMe page created to help WWJโs news anchorโs children following domestic attack
Read full article: GoFundMe page created to help WWJโs news anchorโs children following domestic attackA GoFundMe page was organized for the children of Jim Matthews, who was killed on Friday in his Chesterfield Township home, according to WWJ 950.
When insurance wonโt pay: Family turns to crowdfunding site to raise money for life-saving treatment
Read full article: When insurance wonโt pay: Family turns to crowdfunding site to raise money for life-saving treatmentWhat do you do if you donโt have health insurance or your health insurer refuses to pay for treatment?
'Glue me back together': Online pleas to aid parade victims
Read full article: 'Glue me back together': Online pleas to aid parade victimsFriends and families of the roughly 60 people hit by an SUV that sped through a Christmas parade in a suburban Milwaukee downtown say some suffered life-threatening injuries.
8-year-old Michigan boy sells his Pokรฉmon cards to pay for his puppyโs surgery
Read full article: 8-year-old Michigan boy sells his Pokรฉmon cards to pay for his puppyโs surgeryWhen Bryson Kiliman heard his parents talking about the expensive vet bills they may not be able to pay, he got to work.
Donations pour in for families of Atlanta shooting victims
Read full article: Donations pour in for families of Atlanta shooting victims(AP Photo/Ben Gray)Shortly after his mother was killed in the Atlanta-area shootings, Randy Park launched a GoFundMe page asking for $20,000 to pay for funeral expenses. For now, donors to victims of the Atlanta shootings must scour individual GoFundMe accounts. A page for Yong Yueโs family drew more than $115,000. AdPark's family was the first to launch a GoFundMe page. This is simply a change in my life,โ Park wrote to the 70,000 people who had contributed as of Sunday afternoon.
Officers raise money to get Ann Arbor boy who survived terrible crash wheelchair accessible vehicle
Read full article: Officers raise money to get Ann Arbor boy who survived terrible crash wheelchair accessible vehicleANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Last year a boy from Ann Arbor survived a terrible crash and his life was forever changed. His journey touched the lives of the Wayne officers who answered the call. Heโs my superhero,โ said Lindsay Vierk, whose son was paralyzed in the crash. AdThe Wayne officers that responded that day say Butler is a boy they will never forget. AdRead more: Ann Arbor headlines
Ann Arbor parents launch GoFundMe to start PAC as school district mulls staying virtual
Read full article: Ann Arbor parents launch GoFundMe to start PAC as school district mulls staying virtualANN ARBOR โ A GoFundMe organized by parent group Ann Arbor Reasonable Return has surpassed its $30,000 goal in under 24 hours. โAnn Arbor Reasonable Return is exploring all options to get relief for families in the Ann Arbor Public Schools who have been in virtual only learning since March 13, 2020,โ reads the GoFundMe page. โWe are raising funds for establishing a political action committee (PAC) that can then take steps like retain professional legal and lobbying counsel. According to the Board of Education, if they vote to keep school virtual, children with the greatest needs will be able to return to buildings at the end of March. AdCo-founder of Ann Arbor Reasonable Return Lena Kauffman said that the group is currently in the process of signing with the firm.
Ann Arbor woman raising money to provide homeless with phone charging kits
Read full article: Ann Arbor woman raising money to provide homeless with phone charging kitsREAD: Former homeless woman hands out phone charger kits to those in need in Ann ArborAside from not having a safe place to stay, another problem was created. Many homeless people do keep a cell phone, that is how they can stay connected to services offering help. A formerly homeless woman in Ann Arbor found a solution but is asking for help. Ariah Schgat, 28, said when she was homeless her phone was her lifeline to doctors, shelter services and more. READ: Michigan nonprofit aims to help homeless, dismiss stereotypesโItโs very nerve-wracking because every percent going down is another chance you could miss the call that could get you off the streets,โ she said.
Man charged with mutilating body in connection with missing 29-year-old Livingston County woman
Read full article: Man charged with mutilating body in connection with missing 29-year-old Livingston County womanDETROIT โ Dowan Knighton, 47, is in jail in connection with the recently discovered remains of 29-year-old Kayla Pierce of Livingston County. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy charged Knighton with mutilation of a dead body, concealing the death of an individual and tampering with evidence. Detroit police said Pierceโs mother reported her missing on Nov. 24, 2020. He is expected to return to court Feb. 25. A GoFundMe has been set up to help Pierceโs family pay for funeral expenses.
Former homeless woman hands out phone charger kits to those in need in Ann Arbor
Read full article: Former homeless woman hands out phone charger kits to those in need in Ann ArborAriah Schugat recently came to the Ann Arbor area and experienced these challenges. With restaurants, cafes and the Ann Arbor District Libraries closed, the pack helped keep her phone charged and, in turn, connected with those who could help. When asked why she started the project, Schugat said she wanted to spread kindness, since it is ultimately what got her off the streets. โThe need is far greater than just the phone kits. Every time they come out (of jail), theyโre two steps further back.โWith plans to expand the project, Schugat said more funding is needed.
Suspected drunk driver awaits charges in Taylor crash that killed 12-year-old girl
Read full article: Suspected drunk driver awaits charges in Taylor crash that killed 12-year-old girlTAYLOR, Mich. โ A Metro Detroit family is grieving while awaiting charges against a suspected drunk driver who crashed into another vehicle this week, killing a 12-year-old girl. UPDATE: Man accused of driving drunk faces 9 felony charges in Taylor crash that killed 12-year-old girlOn Wednesday, Feb. 3, 12-year-old Phoebe Elliot was a passenger in her auntโs vehicle, traveling westbound on Northline Road. Taylor Police Chief John Blair says the driver who crashed into Elliotโs vehicle will more than likely be facing charges. โI think this is about supporting this 12-year-old girlโs family,โ Blair said. Original story: Driver accused of running red light in Taylor crash that killed 12-year-old girlMore: Local news
Jim Toy Community Center to close office, starts GoFundMe campaign
Read full article: Jim Toy Community Center to close office, starts GoFundMe campaignANN ARBOR, Mich. โ The Jim Toy Community Center announced Tuesday that the doors of its physical office space, located at 319 Braun Court, would close at the end of January. Jim Toy Community Center has also launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with the expenses of the volunteer-run nonprofit. If you can, please help by contributing to the GoFundMe Campaign to ensure a vibrant and active countywide #LGBTQ resource center exists in the future. After the Jim Toy Community Center board of directors meeting in December, Joe Schoch was elected as board president in 2021. He is replacing Travis Radina, who was elected as an Ann Arbor City Council member representing Ward 3 in November.
Longtime Ann Arbor firefighter passes away after battling cancer
Read full article: Longtime Ann Arbor firefighter passes away after battling cancerANN ARBOR โ Retired training officer with the Ann Arbor Fire Department, Craig Sidelinger, passed away on Monday morning after a nearly two-year battle with colon cancer. Sidelinger joined AAFD as a firefighter in 2000. He held the position for 10 years before advancing to training officer -- a role he also held for 10 years. According to AAFD, Sidelinger was the longest-serving training officer in the department. โHe also helped teach public outreach such as Safety Town, Ann Arbor Ready, and the City Citizenโs Academy.
Married couple identified in fatal Corktown collision
Read full article: Married couple identified in fatal Corktown collisionDETROIT โ Family and friends of Rodney and Marlene Rodriguez are remembering the two after they died in a two-car collision on Michigan Avenue. According to a GoFundMe page, Rodney and Marlene were married for 43 years. Rodney just picked up his wife from work at a city casino when the crash happened on New Yearโs Eve night. Larry and Tahisha Smith had just left MGM Casino when they saw the crash. Police said Rodney and Marlene were in their Mercury Sable which was split in half in the collision.
Pinball Peteโs asks for help keeping the lights on amid pandemic
Read full article: Pinball Peteโs asks for help keeping the lights on amid pandemicANN ARBOR, Mich. โ Whether itโs a first date, birthday party or family game night, everyone has a story about Pinball Peteโs. So Pinball Peteโs has started a GoFundMe campaign and is asking its legions of loyal fans for help. โThe response that weโve received initially has been outstanding,โ said Nick Reynolds, son of Pinball Peteโs owner Mike Reynolds. Those who donate between $1-$50 will be mentioned in a thank you post on the Pinball Peteโs Facebook pages. Pinball Peteโs is at 1214 S. University Ave in Ann Arbor and 220 Albert St. in East Lansing, Michigan.
Pinball Peteโs in Ann Arbor to reopen Saturday
Read full article: Pinball Peteโs in Ann Arbor to reopen SaturdayANN ARBOR, Mich. โ We hope youโve been saving up your quarters. Pinball and arcade game players can Ann Arborโs historic arcade, Pinball Peteโs, between noon and 6 p.m. on Saturday. According to the businessesโ Facebook page, masks are required, hand sanitizer stations are posted throughout the store and machines are sanitized as they are used. The East Lansing Pinball Peteโs location will on January 1, 2021 with limited hours and capacity. Pinball Peteโs is at 1214 S. University Ave.
Sterling Heights police help family in need after parents die from COVID
Read full article: Sterling Heights police help family in need after parents die from COVIDSTERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. โ A couple who died after battling COVID-19 left behind three children. Those children now need help paying the bills. However, the Sterling Heights Police Department decided officers could help, too. If you would like to help the family, there is a GoFundMe. More: Sterling Heights news
Michigan restaurant supplier works to raise money for food service workers
Read full article: Michigan restaurant supplier works to raise money for food service workersSOUTHFIELD, Mich. โ With little government assistance, the food service in the United States has been decimated by the pandemic. In lieu of government assistance, one Metro Detroit supplier is stepping in to help as much as they can. Thatโs why they set up the Local Love campaign, an online application for restaurant owners to fill out and also a GoFundMe page to raise money for these restaurants. So anyone that is able to help should help,โ Floyd said. According to the National Restaurant Association, 83% of restaurants owners expect sales to decline over winter and 37% believe theyโll be able to remain open in six months without government help.
Officials identify body found on Grand Valley State University campus as first-year student from Royal Oak
Read full article: Officials identify body found on Grand Valley State University campus as first-year student from Royal OakALLENDALE, Mich. โ Dozens are mourning the sudden loss of Grand Valley State University first-year student Taylor DeRosa. DeRosaโs body was found on Dec. 12 by a jogger near the athletic field on the universityโs Allendale campus. Police are investigating her death as suspicious. PREVIOUS: Police investigating suspicious death after body found on Grand Valley campusThe manner of death is not being revealed at this time. Anyone who has information is asked to call the Grand Valley State University Police Department at 616-331-3255.
Family of 12-year-old boy fatally shot in Oak Park needs help with funeral
Read full article: Family of 12-year-old boy fatally shot in Oak Park needs help with funeralOAK PARK, Mich. โ Family and friends of LaDamien Williams is asking for help covering the boyโs funeral costs. LaDamien was just 12 years old when he was fatally shot Monday inside a home in Oak Park. Here is the statement from the fund organizer:โMy friend dedicated her life to saving other peoples lives. She has worked in the healthcare field saving lives every day being there for other peopleโs family members. She did not have any life insurance for her children and we need to help give this young man, this innocent young man a proper burial.
Bike built for boy with cerebral palsy stolen from Shelby Township home
Read full article: Bike built for boy with cerebral palsy stolen from Shelby Township homeSHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. โ A family in Macomb County is asking a thief to return a stolen bike -- no questions asked. Itโs no ordinary bike -- it was built specifically for their 12-year-old son with cerebral palsy so he could ride with his sisters. โThe bike itself was bought because he canโt really do a two-wheel,โ said Jennifer Kraft. Like Leland, the bike was one-of-a-kind -- a tricycle built and modified so he could join his sisters on their rides. โIt was more so about his independence,โ Nicholas Kraft said.
Bike built for boy with cerebral palsy stolen from Shelby Township home
Read full article: Bike built for boy with cerebral palsy stolen from Shelby Township homeBike built for boy with cerebral palsy stolen from Shelby Township homePublished: August 30, 2020, 11:29 pmโIt just seems like all that hard work we did to get it shipped here because of everything thatโs going on, and my brother in-lawโs work on the bike it -- just seems like it went to waste,โ said Nicholas Kraft.
SCRAP Creative Reuse hopes to keep doors open with Save Our SCRAP project
Read full article: SCRAP Creative Reuse hopes to keep doors open with Save Our SCRAP projectANN ARBOR, Mich. โ One Ann Arbor nonprofit is reaching out to the community to help to keep it afloat during the global health crisis. SCRAP Creative Reuse is a nonprofit organization located in Ann Arbor dedicated to education on sustainability and recycling used materials. The drop in business inspired SCRAP Creative Reuse to open up the Save our SCRAP project, a Gofundme with a goal of $20,000. Saturday Aug. 29, SCRAP Creative Reuse will also be having a back-to-school sale with buy one get one free fill-a-bags, special deals for teachers, and discounts on school and office supplies. To donate visit the Save our SCRAP Gofundme, or visit the SCRAP Creative Reuse website for more information.
Community rallies to help Ferndale poet facing eviction
Read full article: Community rallies to help Ferndale poet facing evictionFERNDALE, Mich. โ Sparrow Karas is a beloved member of the Ferndale community and her neighbors are joining forces to help. After living in the same house for 30 years, Karas is facing eviction. She said her believe is that humans are extraordinary, which makes our current world a mystery to her. The owner wants to sell the house and Karas is facing eviction. The goal is to raise enough money to make the down payment on the house, buy it and gift it to her.
Community rallies to help Ferndale poet facing eviction
Read full article: Community rallies to help Ferndale poet facing evictionCommunity rallies to help Ferndale poet facing evictionPublished: July 30, 2020, 6:12 pmSparrow Karas is a beloved member of the Ferndale community and her neighbors are joining forces to help.
Video of Detroit man using custom wheelchair goes viral, family asks for help
Read full article: Video of Detroit man using custom wheelchair goes viral, family asks for helpDETROIT โ Itโs been decades since one Detroit grandfather has been able to walk due to multiple sclerosis. Itโs designed to help the user stand upright and be able to walk. โThe last time I saw him stand up was in college,โ Melinda said. โI understand weโre in the middle of a pandemic and a civil rights movement, but hope is not canceled and courage is not canceled,โ Melinda said. โMy father is the most courageous man I know.โA GoFundMe has been set up for the family.
Iconic 45-year-old Ann Arbor bookstore launches GoFundMe to weather coronavirus pandemic
Read full article: Iconic 45-year-old Ann Arbor bookstore launches GoFundMe to weather coronavirus pandemicIn 1975, Jay Platt opened West Side Book Shop on W. Liberty St. seven years after graduating from the University of Michigan. Platt launched the โHELP WEST SIDE BOOKS SURVIVEโ GoFundMe campaign on April 28 with the goal of raising $75,000. Additionally, Platt has had to cancel this yearโs Ann Arbor Book Fair -- an event he has organized for more than 25 years that benefits University of Michiganโs Clements Library. โWe are vintage, like many of our books,โ wrote Platt. West Side Book Shop is at 113 W. Liberty Street Ann Arbor.
Michigan school district finds unique way to raise money after residents vote against bond proposal
Read full article: Michigan school district finds unique way to raise money after residents vote against bond proposalBLACKMAN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) โ A Michigan school district has launched a GoFundMe-style fundraising campaign for school upgrades after residents voted against a bond proposal in 2018. MLive reports that Northwest Community Schools District started the Invest in Northwest portal in January. The district hopes to encourage people to give by sharing success stories on the website. The online portal does not have a timeline or total price tag. Some projects have money goals, while others donโt.
Company gifts family accessible van after teen shot in head at Detroit gas station
Read full article: Company gifts family accessible van after teen shot in head at Detroit gas stationIn June of 2019, Johnson and his family were getting pizza and stopped at a gas station at 7 Mile and Telegraph roads in Detroit. The first company to call us back was Freedom Motors USA. Right away, Freedom Motors USA jumped into action. Sales Manager Justin Lerette said, โThe name Freedom Motors USA means more than a company name. (WDIV)When Local 4 showed Brathwaite her new van, thanks to Freedom Motors USA, she was overwhelmed.
GoFundMe set up for family of 1-year-old boy killed in I-94 crash
Read full article: GoFundMe set up for family of 1-year-old boy killed in I-94 crashST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. โ A donation account has been set up to help the family of a 1-year-old boy who was killed Tuesday morning when someone struck his motherโs car on eastbound I-94 in Macomb County. Police said the preliminary investigation showed a van was traveling in the left center lane on eastbound I-94 at Martin Road about 6 a.m. when it changed into the left lane and rear-ended the car. She stopped the car on the interstate and was waiting for help when the van hit the car. The family says the boyโs mother suffered serious injuries and will have a long road to recovery. This GoFundMe page has been created to help pay for the childโs funeral.
Boy, 5, Thrown From Mall of America Balcony by Stranger Now Recovering at Home
Read full article: Boy, 5, Thrown From Mall of America Balcony by Stranger Now Recovering at HomeA 5-year-old boy who was thrown off a third-story balcony at the Mall of America in a random attack nearly five months ago has recovered enough to leave the hospital, his loved ones said. Landen completed inpatient rehabilitation and has entered the next phase of recovery, which will take place at his home, his family said Tuesday on GoFundMe. Landen will undergo continued outpatient rehabilitation for multiple injuries and adjusting to life back at home and school, his family said. Landen was with his family at the Minnesota mall on April 12 when a stranger grabbed him and threw him over the balcony, officials said. RELATED STORIESMan Who Threw Boy at Mall of America Gets 19 Years in PrisonMore Than $500K Raised for Little Boy Thrown Off Mall of America BalconyToddler Is Recovering After Being Hit by Shrapnel, Losing Teeth in Texas Shooting
Pa. duo faked birth, death for GoFundMe
Read full article: Pa. duo faked birth, death for GoFundMeThe couple raised a total of $550 from the GoFundMe, according to a company spokeswoman. Photographs of baby Easton were posted on the couple's Facebook pages, and the baby matched the "appearance of a newborn look-a-like baby doll," the complaint said. Police say they were unable to find any record that baby Easton ever existed. Police checked with the coroner's office in Somerset and Cambria County and neither had records of an Easton Lang, according to the complaint. CNN has also attempted to reach out to the people who gave the couple money and gifts.