gofundme accounts

[barkley]

I've experienced the same flood of gofundme.com requests on FB, and so far, none of them have gotten a red cent from me. I have one friend who has been asking for money to help fund her son's homeschooling for the past few months now. Just recently, she said that the money from that will also go towards their rent/utility bills since she can't work because she has chosen homeschooling. It's gotten to the point where she simply just posts the gofundme.com link as her status update. It's annoying. I am not responsible for funding your life choices.

the ones that are clearly life choice get to me too. we recently encountered one where it's 2 local high school grads (boyfriend and girlfriend during high school) who both entered the military together and subsequently married. now a year or so into enlistment they decide they want a baby so she got pregnant, did whatever it takes to get a discharge and NOW they are peppering people with referrals to their gofundme account to "pay for the baby"

 

[CarolJ]

I didn't have a problem with fundraisers until recently. Our insurance agent had a local fundraiser to help with expenses after her husband passed away. A little while after the fundraiser she posted on her Facebook page about her wonderful trip to France. Then 6 months later she had an advertisement in our newspaper stating she was so thankful that she had 2 very large life insurance policies on her husband. She was using her story to encourage others to purchase life insurance policies through her in case they experienced the death of a loved one.

My husband did pass away almost 25 years ago and I only had a very, very small life insurance policy. If I had 2 very large insurance policies I would feel it immoral to hold a fundraiser and collect the money for "expenses". Especially if I was going on a trip to France and was going to collect a substantial sum from life insurance! Now I am very leery about such fundraisers. I don't have a lot of extra cash and certainly don't want my donation to be used for luxury items. As she is an insurance agent I am sure that she had travel insurance so the trip was not a necessity.

 

[WDWMom]

Recently I have had requests for a local boy that needs alcohol rehab in Argentina. Really, Argentina? We live in west Michigan along with his whole family. Mom started the fund saying this was the only place he can go and insurance won't pay. While I agree an 18 year old with an alcohol problem needs treatment isn't there someplace in state or at least in the U.S.? There is also a long involved story of entitlement with mom and dad. Not so much the young man who is actually quite and shy.

I will not be funding this and so far they have raised about 2500 of the 10 grand they are asking.

 

[CarolJ]

I decided to look at some of the go fund me requests. One person wanted help with her wedding. She stated "We have been fortunate enough to have support from our families on ideas for decorating and planning but money is the main issue. We both work but saving is a pain nowadays." So now they want help from other working people since it's a pain to save it themselves?

There are many "dream trip" requests such as a young girl wanting to go on a 19 day vacation for her graduation and a couple whom both quit their jobs so they can go backpacking in Europe for 7 1/2 weeks.

I cannot believe that people are actually donating money to these "causes". Whatever happened to working a job and paying for the things you want? I don't mean to include requests for those whom are truly in need. Unfortunately I am finding out that people I thought were in need really weren't in need- they just didn't want to use their own funds to pay for their needs.

 

[Luv2Run]

Recently I have had requests for a local boy that needs alcohol rehab in Argentina. Really, Argentina? We live in west Michigan along with his whole family. Mom started the fund saying this was the only place he can go and insurance won't pay. While I agree an 18 year old with an alcohol problem needs treatment isn't there someplace in state or at least in the U.S.? There is also a long involved story of entitlement with mom and dad. Not so much the young man who is actually quite and shy.

I will not be funding this and so far they have raised about 2500 of the 10 grand they are asking.

As cynical as I am, I would be so tempted to research local rehab facilities and post the link to their websites as a comment on her request for donations to her gofundme.com account. But, hey, I'm a big meanie.

 

[tinkerbell of winter]

Go Fund Me makes me crazy, specifically the ones where people are asking for money without a legitimate need. I know a family who has six children and the father is getting ready to get out of the military. They have set up a number of go fund me accounts. The first one was to fund their children's gymnastics lessons. And they couldn't just take the lessons at the local gym no they had to drive over an hour away one way and were on there begging for gas money, tuition and money for camp. Later on they started another one because they have big plans to open a gymnastics gym and were on begging for money to start a business. Then they had tenants wreck a house they had in another state from when they were stationed elsewhere and they didn't sell it but rented it instead. Now these are people who have always had their housing for six reimbursed because of the military and really don't know what it's like to live in the "outside world" having to survive on their own without assistance. Maybe it's just me but I think if you are planning on starting a business you need to have saved money all those years you lived in free housing and maybe wait until you are out of the military and reassess if something is financially feasible. They were also putting up a sob story about their daughter getting ready to go to college and they need money for tuition. Newsflash, she can get loans and pay them back like most everyone else has to do. Ok rant over it just bothers me that these sites are used for anything and not just things like charitable contributions.

 

[Julia M]

I am also not a big fan of these sites, although I agree there are legitimate requests (in my eyes), most are not. Typically, I do not donate. However, I did just donate to a coworker who has to travel out of town for a medical procedure for her child and I was happy to do so.

The site "youcaring.com" doesn't charge a fee, only the credit card charge, although they ask for a donation, it's not required. At least you know what you donate is getting there.

 

[Mizzoufan]

Everyone I have seen have been for personal trips. I detest that!

 

[Dread Pirate]

I can't believe how many people put requests on their for travel, like those People to People "Ambassador" programs. It's a glorified travel agency, and they send those applications to everyone. If you can get the money to go, you gualify! There's no honor in getting selected, and then the parents try to get others to pay for a vacation for their kid. Rediculous!

 

[ReneeA]

I have donated to a fund for a girl I work with. She's Canadian, but has worked in Detroit as a RN for 12 years. She's the breadwinner of the family, with a DH & 4 kids. She was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma of her abdomen. There are a few treatments here in the US that aren't offered in Canada, and one of the doctors that perform it works out of our hospital. Since she is not American, she doesn't have our insurance, the doctor has offered to waive his fees to do the surgery for her. She has to come up with a free for the surgery suite and a few days in the hospital. They're also had a tough go of it since she's been out of work for 9months and she doesn't qualify for unemployment here or in Canada.

Unfortunately, the most recent biopsy has shown the metastasis to her pericardial sac, so no surgery can help now. The fund is now helping pay their bills and probably a funeral soon.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've got mixed feelings.

On one hand, it's a way for friends and family to help in a time of need. I know a mom who's son just had surgery for a brain tumor. He's been very sick for several weeks, but was just diagnosed last week. A fund was set up to help with expenses related to their health needs and due to time lost at work. I know her through a message board similar to this and we've been online friends for about 9 years. Lots of people who donated aren't IRL friends, but friends that met online at around the same time as I met her. I don't view this as a money grab, but a way for people who care about her family to help in a time of need.

I find some of the viral gofundme funds as strange, the man who walked 21 miles and the New Zealand dad with the baby born with Down Syndrome and abandoned by the father, for example. The later had set an original goal of $60,000- an amount meant to help him and his baby get back to his native country and set up a new home, medical expenses, etc. It's now gone over $300,000 (last I looked a few days ago). That seems like a money grab. To not shut it down after reaching a certain amount seems- I don't know- greedy. I understand the good feeling people get for donating to such funds, but some of the amounts seem very excessive (and do those people donate also to their own family and friends in need, or just viral funds?)

Another thing that I've noticed is that tragedy is a money maker. I hate that feeling. I've seen funds set up for funeral costs for a child- it's tragic, but why the heck is the account set up for $50,000, $100,000 or more? The vibe I get is that the parents are making money off the death of the child. Gofundme for funeral expenses shouldn't be like hitting the jackpot.

An additional thought: funds set up for loss of a parent. Do people with children and spouses not have life insurance? I know it can be an expense, but I can't fathom a person having things like cell phones (or Disney vacations) and not having a proper life insurance plan in place for their family first. There was recently a father of 11 (IIRC) who died in a car accident. The fund set up raised $250,000 in a matter of days as he was very well known in his real life community as well as online community. It's commendable that people help this family, but it begs the question- Was there life insurance?

My family has gone through some very difficult years recently due to multiple job losses. The idea of a fund had never crossed my mind, but I can't say that if other tragedies strike (Gd forbid!) that I would deter a friend or family member from setting one up for us.

I can't even watch the news anymore because it seems like they always end in "an account has been set up....."

Call me pessimistic, but when people whine to social media and then get their way, the entitlement just astounds me! The dad with the baby, the man who walked to work, the family who lost everything.... Doesnt this kind of thing happen everyday to random people all over the world?

What gets me the most is that it's not just every once in a while you see these pleas for money, it's every time you open your phone.

The New Zealand father is apparently planning to donate the excess donations to Armenian agencies that work with abandoned children https://tnchristiannews.wordpress.c...r-refuses-to-give-up-baby-with-down-syndrome/

The fund for the man who walked 21 miles daily to from work was started by someone who, I think, doesn't know him but heard or read about his plight
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/02/man-walks-21-miles-work-james-robertson_n_6594246.html

And being unemployed right now, no, I don't have any life insurance. Not because I don't want it or don't necessarily need it, but it's simply unaffordable. Now, ideally I'll have a job again before I die.

 

[Skywalker]

I will never donate to one of these things. People who would probably be embarrassed to stand on the street corners with their hands out, somehow feel it is okay to hide behind doing it "online". It is annoying, and I just skim right past them now.

 

[tinatark]

Some interesting things about gofund me and the people it helps - the account set up for the man who walked back and forth to work? It is not "his" account - technically it belongs to the person who created it... in deaths due to car accidents, funeral expenses are paid by the insurer - (I know that even though car insurance is mandatory in every state, not everyone has it)... the last, in the cases of police officers/firefighters, etc killed on the job and funds raised - there are SO many funds that will benefit the family! LODD (line of duty death) funerals are paid for, college educations for spouse and children are paid for, a large death benefit is paid by the Federal Govt., and most of them will have some type of worker's comp settlement, as well as pension paid to the surviving spouse as if they retired at normal retirement age. In Florida, health insurance is paid for life for the surviving spouse as well.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I only hear about these when they go viral.

 

[eh24fan]

I am NOT a fan of GoFundMe. Currently, my stepmom's ex sister in law is posting a link every day on FB for her personal GoFundMe. Apparently she has dental issues, several broken teeth that need to be removed and can't afford the surgery. However, she and her new husband are both VERY overweight, work low paying jobs, rely on the help of others all the time, have other health problems that are directly related to their weight, have Medicaid etc. It is taking everything in me to keep my thoughts to myself. Interestingly enough, no one has donated at all since she set it up over a week ago, so it seems as though I'm not the only person who feels they need to find a way to fund the surgery on their own.

 

[fbb]

I went to Argentina with a Bachelor's of Alcohol and came back with a Doctorate of Cocaine.

 

[Happy Snowman]

Some interesting things about gofund me and the people it helps - the account set up for the man who walked back and forth to work? It is not "his" account - technically it belongs to the person who created it... in deaths due to car accidents, funeral expenses are paid by the insurer - (I know that even though car insurance is mandatory in every state, not everyone has it)... the last, in the cases of police officers/firefighters, etc killed on the job and funds raised - there are SO many funds that will benefit the family! LODD (line of duty death) funerals are paid for, college educations for spouse and children are paid for, a large death benefit is paid by the Federal Govt., and most of them will have some type of worker's comp settlement, as well as pension paid to the surviving spouse as if they retired at normal retirement age. In Florida, health insurance is paid for life for the surviving spouse as well.

Deaths due to car accidents are only paid for by the insurer if the insured carries a life insurance policy associated with that auto policy. Not every state mandates having car insurance. I don't know about the rest of what you said but I'm guessing it's not totally correct either.

 

[morgan98]

For the most part, I find the whole gofundme movement very annoying. Yes, sometimes there are serious situations (expensive illnesses, house fires, tragic deaths) that can deal a huge blow to one's whole financial future. Those I have no problem with and will gladly donate to the cause. However, I have got to say I prefer giving directly to the recipient as opposed to through some online "fund".

Unfortunately, however, I find this trend to be more of the instant gratification, we no longer work for what we want movement. I don't care if your kid can't take a trip to Europe, to beg others for money for it is shameful, in my opinion. I feel the same about medication for pets or some type of cosmetic surgery. For these types of things, even if you don't have extra money this minute, you can charge it to a credit card or work out payments for the expense. If you need food that is one thing, these other items are wants, not needs. And that is where the line has totally become blurred. Back in the day, if you couldn't afford you class trip to Europe, you didn't go and life went on...

 

[Allison]

For the most part, I find the whole gofundme movement very annoying. Yes, sometimes there are serious situations (expensive illnesses, house fires, tragic deaths) that can deal a huge blow to one's whole financial future. Those I have no problem with and will gladly donate to the cause. However, I have got to say I prefer giving directly to the recipient as opposed to through some online "fund".

Unfortunately, however, I find this trend to be more of the instant gratification, we no longer work for what we want movement. I don't care if your kid can't take a trip to Europe, to beg others for money for it is shameful, in my opinion. I feel the same about medication for pets or some type of cosmetic surgery. For these types of things, even if you don't have extra money this minute, you can charge it to a credit card or work out payments for the expense. If you need food that is one thing, these other items are wants, not needs. And that is where the line has totally become blurred. Back in the day, if you couldn't afford you class trip to Europe, you didn't go and life went on...

Totally agree.

 

[tinatark]

Deaths due to car accidents are only paid for by the insurer if the insured carries a life insurance policy associated with that auto policy. Not every state mandates having car insurance. I don't know about the rest of what you said but I'm guessing it's not totally correct either.

I'm sorry, I should have said 49 of 50 states mandate car insurance. All of them except New Hampshire.

Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage would pay a death benefit, as would PIP and Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage. I have carried car insurance with major carriers - Allstate, Farm Bureau, etc. for many, many years and have never been offered a life insurance policy as part of my car insurance.