Whitby and Pickering have made the year-end record of the highest 20 most beneficiant GoFundMe communities in Canada.
The net donation platform rated Canada’s communities on a per capita foundation, with Whitby simply lacking the highest 10 and ending twelfth whereas Pickering was seventeenth.
Victoria, B.C., took high spot, adopted by North Vancouver, B.C., and St. John’s, N.L.
Right here in Durham Area, over this previous 12 months, when tragedy struck or a neighbour wanted assist because of a medical emergency, folks proved again and again they have been prepared to assist out.
Moved by the human tales and the struggling family members needed to battle with, the folks of Durham didn’t maintain again and opened their wallets to help these in want.
We now have a look again at 10 tales from this previous 12 months the place folks got here by to assist on the worst time to help somebody, oftentimes somebody they don’t know and can by no means meet, as a result of they really feel moved to take action.
A GoFundMe on-line fundraising account for the household of Andrieana and Pat Montgomery has raised over $264,000 for the younger sons of the Oshawa couple. They have been shot and died in July. A person has been charged with two counts of first-degree homicide.
Mike Modeste photograph
1. The surprising double slaying of fogeys Patrick and Andrieana Montgomery occurred in Oshawa in July. When phrase acquired out of the deaths of those younger mother and father, grieving mates, family members and supporters from far and huge have been moved to donate.
A person has been charged with first-degree homicide within the separate capturing deaths of each Patrick and Andrieana, leaving their younger sons orphans inside minutes. Patrick, born and raised in Oshawa, additionally performed for the Oshawa Generals main junior hockey group for 3 years earlier than happening to school to play hockey and finally taught highschool in Whitby. Andrieana was additionally a trainer in Bowmanville for a few years. The couple go away behind two younger sons, who would be the recipients of a GoFundMe account that had raised an unbelievable $264,779 eventually depend from a objective of $150,000.
Charity Hogan, 50, and Craig Sutherland, 57, of Oshawa, have been using on his Harley Davidson within the Catskills in upstate New York on Sept. 10, once they have been struck by an alleged drunk driver and suffered life-threatening accidents. After 44 days in Albany Medical Centre and 30 operations, Craig died. Charity got here residence quickly after, however misplaced a leg.
Randy Hemle photograph
2. Motorbike bike riders Charity Hogan and Craig Sutherland have been simply having fun with an everyday jaunt to the Catskills to satisfy different bikers for a five-day get-together referred to as Catskill Mountain Thunder when their worlds have been turned the wrong way up. The pair have been struck by an alleged drunk driver charged with quite a few offences, together with driving whereas intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to yield the fitting of manner and consumption of alcohol in a automobile, mentioned police. The crash occurred on Sept. 10 and for the subsequent 44 days, in Albany Medical Centre, Sutherland underwent over 30 gruelling operations earlier than he handed away. Hogan misplaced a leg earlier than she was lastly transported again to Canada. Readers adopted the story and contributed $121,666 by GoFundMe for the couple’s bills.
Jennifer Polak’s two sons, Liam and Brennan Dicks, would be the beneficiaries of a GoFundMe account arrange by family members after their mother died final March. Polak’s boyfriend, Kyle Severin, 35 has been charged with second-degree homicide after police confirmed up at an Ajax residence. They discovered Polak “with obvious signs of trauma,” and makes an attempt at life-saving measures on the scene have been unsuccessful.
Jean Polak photograph
3. The terrible spectre of intimate companion violence raised its ugly head time and time once more in Durham Area in 2024. The primary, however sadly not the final, was the dying of mom of two Jennifer Polak in March, who was discovered with “obvious signs of trauma” and died on the scene after police answered a misery name at an Ajax residence. Her boyfriend, Kyle Severin, was charged with second-degree homicide. A GoFundMe to help Polak’s younger sons, Liam and Brennan Dicks, has raised $102,500 to this point.
4. One other occasion of intimate companion violence struck in November, and readers have been taken by the story of a mom of five-year-old twin women, Parween Adel, 48, who was discovered deceased in her Oshawa residence the night time after the household had reportedly attended the Oshawa Santa Claus Parade of Lights on Nov. 16. Her husband, Hakim Adel, 41, has been charged with second-degree homicide within the incident. The couple have twin five-year-old women, and readers responded on the notion of serving to to help the youngsters with $93,050 raised to this point.
A Gofundme launched to help the household of Spencer McCracken after the Bowmanville father was struck and killed by a drunk driver this previous summer season has raised over $86,000.
Gofundme photograph
5. The neighborhood of Bowmanville was surprised when a younger father and husband, Spencer McCracken, died after he was struck by an alleged drunk driver whereas out strolling on Simpson Avenue. The accident in final July occurred, police mentioned, when the driving force of a dashing Hyundai sedan struck an SUV, misplaced management and jumped the curb, hitting all three members of the McCracken household, together with Spencer’s spouse Lily and daughter Breanna, who have been taken to hospital and recovered. Described as “a beacon of light and kindness, always willing to lend a helping hand and share a warm smile,” a GoFundMe was began for Lily and Breanna and has raised $86,553 to this point. A 22-year-old from Clarington was charged with impaired operation trigger dying, three counts of impaired operation trigger bodily hurt, harmful driving trigger dying, three counts of harmful driving inflicting bodily hurt and function motorcar — no insurance coverage.
6. Motion taken by a mom throughout a Jan. 19 blaze final 12 months in Ajax saved the lifetime of her younger son, as she was capable of throw him out the window of her second-storey residence window into the arms of first responders beneath. Nevertheless, when Andrea jumped out the window, she landed awkwardly, struggling damaged ribs and bones in her nostril, eye and face and accidents to her neck that left her with life-threatening clots in her carotid artery. The kid’s father sustained life-threatening accidents that left him in a coma. Many months of restoration have been required for each adults. As well as, all of the household’s possessions have been misplaced within the hearth. A GoFundMe was set as much as assist and readers responded, elevating $64,086, effectively over the preliminary $25,000 objective.
7. Residing with most cancers is all the time a deeply private journey that grips shut household and mates in its deadly embrace, however when it includes “Ella the Brave,” a four-year-old from Clarington, everybody joins in to supply help and encouragement. And that’s simply what has transpired since phrase acquired out that little Ella, who has been recognized with clear cell sarcoma after having emergency surgical procedure to take away a really massive tumour from her stomach and one from her kidneys, is dealing with aggressive most cancers therapy. The 36-week therapy plan at SickKids is now ongoing for Ella and her mother and father and two older brothers, and to assist the household cope by all of it, a household good friend has began a GoFundMe, which readers have generously contributed $58,386 to to this point.
Oli Campbell, 15, of Whitby, suffered a devastating freak damage in a baseball sport on Sept. 14 that resulted in a number of cranium fractures, mind bleeds and a blood clot. He’s on the Hospital for Sick Youngsters and could have surgical procedure on Oct. 7. A GoFundMe arrange for Oli, who has recovered, raised over $34,000.
Erin Hill photograph
8. A freak baseball accident at a minor league boys’ sport this previous September was life-threatening for Whitby’s 15-year-old Oli Campbell, who suffered a number of cranium fractures, blood clots and mind bleeds on account of the only play. Campbell was rushed to SickKids, the place he was scheduled to bear surgical procedure. Whereas there was an surprising delay and a relapse, Oli made a full restoration, a lot to the reduction of his household. Alongside the best way, involved neighborhood members donated $34,192 to assist help the household and Oli all through the ordeal.
9. A horrific canine assault upended the lifetime of a Whitby mom of two grownup youngsters, who was merely out for a stroll one night when a Nice Dane mauled her, biting her face and leaving her with head, face, ear, arm, chest and foot accidents. As well as, all of the ligaments in her knee have been torn, leaving her motionless, mentioned the lady’s sister-in-law, Sherri Shares, who organized a GoFundMe to help the sufferer, Elizabeth King. King’s grownup youngsters rushed again to Whitby to assist their mother, who was capable of return from Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto after every week in restoration and from therapy. King mentioned she actually appreciated the donations she acquired from your entire neighborhood: “I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible generosity and support you’ve given through my GoFundMe campaign, either by donating, sharing, or sending your well wishes. I feel like I have been given a giant, warm hug from my community and can’t thank you all enough. Your donations are not only easing the financial burden but also giving me the chance to concentrate on my medical treatment, rehabilitation, and psychological care. The road ahead is long as I await further surgeries, but with your support, I feel much more hopeful.” The entire raised within the marketing campaign was $30,079.
A GoFundMe account has been arrange by the aunts of Molly Tanner, 21, of Whitby, who died in a in single-vehicle rollover accident on Freeway 412 within the early hours of Aug. 17. The funds have been raised to assist Molly’s sister Madie together with her future schooling and help wants. It raised over $18,000.
Tanner household photograph
10. A fund to help the little sister of a beloved older sister who died in a single-vehicle accident on Freeway 412 in Whitby in August acquired extra help than initially anticipated. Molly Tanner, 21, or “Molly Mooster,” as Molly’s aunts referred to as her, was described in vibrant and beloved phrases within the GoFundMe biography.
“Molly cherished her memories of drinking wine on rooftops of churches in Greece, travelling Harry Potter-style on trains from London to France, Italy and back, jetting off to Ireland for a day and a Guinness. Friends and family will hold dear in their hearts their memories of vacations to St Lucia, Dominican and Las Vegas with her,” it says.
“A dreamer, an entrepreneur, an artist and musician, she started so many projects, following her passions with confidence and conviction. From drawing, painting, planting, playing music, learning new languages or nurturing her pets, she excelled at most everything she tried,” the publish continues.
“She will be desperately missed by her many, many relatives, especially Gramma Cobden and Papa, Grandpa Peter and Grandma Joy, aunties, uncles and cherished cousins who she shared so many but not enough fun times with,” it mentioned.
The cash raised would go to Molly’s little sister, Madie, the aunts mentioned. They acquired $18,005 in donations from the neighborhood regardless of beginning out with only a $1,000 objective.
In all, the ten GoFundMe campaigns raised an incredible $872,576, and that didn’t account for the entire Durham campaigns — simply 10 of probably the most beneficiant.
When GoFundMe’s cross-Canada record was revealed just a few weeks in the past, GoFundMe mentioned that one in 13 Canadian adults made donations by the platform, elevating a complete of $280 million in 2024. That’s up from the earlier 12 months, when $259 million was raised by the identical interval.
“From small acts of kindness to major community efforts, Canadians are consistently committed to lending a helping hand,” GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan said in a information launch.
“People across Canada have exhibited unprecedented kindness and compassion, exemplified by the generosity shown — from supporting a young girl in North Vancouver hoping to train her service dog or donating dollars to keep the beloved Toronto Santa Claus Parade alive, an unbreakable spirit of solidarity defines Canadians.”
All the nationwide high 20 record is as follows:
Victoria, B.C.North Vancouver, B.C.St. John’s, N.L.Vancouver, B.C.Milton, Ont.Brampton, Ont.Kelowna, B.C.Thunder Bay, Ont.Moncton, N.B.New Westminster, B.C.Guelph, Ont.Whitby, Ont.Prince George, B.C.Kitchener, Ont.Regina, Sask.Calgary, Alta.Pickering, Ont.Waterloo, Ont.Toronto, Ont.Kamloops, B.C.
Extra data is out there on the GoFundMe web site.
— With recordsdata from Kristen Calis and Moya Dillon
