GoFundMe recently closed a fundraiser aimed at raising money for the cancer treatment of 81-year-old Donald Johnson’s wife, which had accumulated nearly $740,000. The closure came after allegations surfaced suggesting the fundraiser was initiated by Johnson’s daughter, who allegedly concealed her true identity.
In a statement to NewsNation, GoFundMe revealed that on September 25, they received information indicating the fundraiser’s organizer ‘Erin H’ was actually Johnson’s daughter. On a recorded call, ‘Erin H’ admitted to being his daughter when GoFundMe confronted her.
On the now-archived GoFundMe page, ‘Erin’ shared a poignant story of witnessing Johnson carrying her heavy luggage, which had been misplaced during a flight. She claimed that Johnson was raising money for Josephine Johnson’s cancer treatment, his wife of 57 years.
GoFundMe, speaking to Fox4, stated, “Ensuring GoFundMe is a safe and trusted place to give and receive help is our top priority. After further review by our Trust & Safety team, the organizer account and fundraiser have been found to be in violation of our Terms of Service, and the fundraiser removed and refunded.”
The platform emphasized the importance of protecting donor generosity and maintaining the ability to support authentic fundraisers. GoFundMe enforces policies demanding transparency and authenticity from fundraisers.
Newsweek reached out to GoFundMe for further comments via email outside of regular office hours.
This story is developing and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
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