Sept. 28, 2026, 8:28 p.m. ET
Strangers who donated to a GoFundMe web page supporting a Texas couple ought to have acquired refunds after the net crowdfunding platform mentioned an inside investigation into the fundraiser “recognized factual misrepresentations.”
Donald Johnson, 81, grew to become a viral sensation after a GoFundMe person named “Erin H,” who mentioned she lives in The Colony, a northern Dallas suburb, organized the fundraiser after seeing her older neighbor “slowly and painstakingly carrying my heavy baggage” up a steep flight of stairs. When Erin tried to assist Johnson, he instructed her he was “working across the clock delivering baggage to make ends meet” to help his 57-year-old spouse, Josephine, who’s “preventing a extreme battle towards most cancers.”
Johnson’s story led strangers to donate over $745,000 to the “HelpDonRetire” GoFundMe web page Erin organized. However GoFundMe has since eliminated the fundraiser, the crowdfunding platform confirmed to USA TODAY in an announcement on Sept. 28.
“Our Belief & Security group recognized factual misrepresentations, which immediately violates our Phrases of Service,” the assertion reads. “Consequently, the fundraiser has been eliminated, and all donors have been refunded. Guaranteeing GoFundMe is a protected and trusted place to provide and obtain assistance is our prime precedence. Taking motion like this permits GoFundMe to guard donors’ generosity and our continued skill to help people who find themselves fundraising to assist others.”
The platform’s assertion continued: “GoFundMe’s insurance policies, together with these of our cost processors, require authenticity and transparency for donors, and are strictly enforced. As a result of that normal wasn’t met right here, donors have been protected underneath our GoFundMe Giving Assure, which ensures a full refund within the uncommon case one thing is not proper.”
This is what to know in regards to the removing of the GoFundMe web page organized for Johnson and his spouse.
Why did GoFundMe take away the Donald Johnson fundraiser?
Based on GoFundMe, it acquired a tip from a involved neighborhood member on Sept. 25 that the fundraiser’s organizer is probably not who she claimed to be. The tip prompted the platform’s Belief & Security group to research the declare and decide that “Erin” was not the organizer’s actual title. GoFundMe mentioned the organizer was truly Donald Johnson’s daughter.
On a recorded name, GoFundMe mentioned the lady admitted to its investigative group that Donald and Josephine Johnson have been her mother and father. Moreover, the platform mentioned she acknowledged that the “neighbor” persona, Erin, was faux, as she believed her mother and father’ story would draw extra consideration if instructed from a stranger’s viewpoint.
Because the GoFundMe circulated, so did a video of Donald Johnson carrying the baggage up a flight of stairs. Whereas talking with its group, GoFundMe mentioned Johnson’s daughter confessed to filming the now-viral video.
Although Johnson’s daughter mentioned elements of her mother and father’ scenario have been true, GoFundMe decided that misrepresenting her id violated its Phrases of Service, which prohibit fundraisers which are “fraudulent, deceptive, inaccurate, or dishonest.”
How viral did Donald Johnson’s fundraiser get?
Earlier than GoFundMe eliminated the fundraiser for Johnson and his spouse, it acquired a ton of media consideration, with NBC 5 DFW and Fox 4 Information interviewing the couple.
As of Sept. 28, NBC 5 DFW has added an editor’s word to its story: “Because the publication of our unique story, GoFundMe has eliminated the fundraiser for violating its phrases of service and is refunding donations. We’re working to make clear the circumstances surrounding the fundraiser and our unique reporting.”
Along with information shops interviewing the couple or sharing their story, comic Matt Rife and investor Invoice Ackman made “beneficiant donations,” Johnson’s daughter wrote in a Sept. 25 replace underneath the title Erin. USA TODAY retained the replace earlier than GoFundMe eliminated the fundraiser.
“Thanks from the underside of our hearts. Thanks for the messages, for the tales of caring for family members with most cancers, and for many who gave in reminiscence of somebody they misplaced. There have been requests to interview me. I began this, however the story ought to keep on Don and Josephine,” the replace reads.
Additionally within the replace, Johnson’s daughter wrote, “This began as a result of I noticed a neighbor who wanted assist. As an alternative of feeling unhappy and transferring on, I selected to step in. That’s the greatest blessing we may give one another. Deal with the nice. At all times select love. I select love, and we’re right here.”
Johnson’s daughter organizes new fundraising web page
After GoFundMe pulled the “HelpDonRetire” web page, Johnson’s daughter organized a GiveSendGo underneath the identical title, this time figuring out herself as Amy, writing: “Don is my dad. Josephine is my mother.”
On the GiveSendGo web page, she detailed extra in regards to the incident with GoFundMe and defined how her mom has pancreatic most cancers.
“The payments are excessive. My dad is 81 and nonetheless works delivering baggage to allow them to keep afloat. The neighbor story is actual. The doorcam video is actual. The prognosis is actual. The job is actual,” Amy Johnson writes.
When describing what occurred with the GoFundMe, Amy Johnson mentioned: “That web page was initially arrange on my account as a result of it was already established and we thought that might be the best approach. When the title on the web page was up to date, GoFundMe handled it as a discrepancy. We supplied documentation. They refunded the donations anyway.”
“We all know that’s irritating. It’s irritating for us too. No one wished your present despatched again. Nothing about my mother’s therapy modified. Nothing about my dad’s age or his work modified. They nonetheless need assistance,” Amy Johnson wrote.
As of Sept. 28, this web page has over $59,000 in donations. USA TODAY contacted GiveSendGo for touch upon Sept. 28, however has not acquired a response.
