Toronto man raises over $175,000 for bullied elderly bus monitor

[Poll_Blind]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto-man-raises-over-165000-for-bullied-elderly-bus-monitor/article4359580/?cmpid=rss1
[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom: none; border-radius: 0.3846em 0.3846em 0em 0em; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]Toronto man raises over $175,000 for bullied elderly bus monitor[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top: none; border-radius: 0em 0em 0.3846em 0.3846em; background-color: #f4f4f4; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]Bullied to tears by teenagers on a school bus where she worked as a monitor, a New York State grandmother will be getting the vacation of a lifetime, thanks to the fundraising efforts of a Toronto man.

The episode, an illustration of the powers of the Internet to both hurt then redeem, began when Max Sidorov saw a video of the bullying which had gone viral.

Mr. Sidorov then went online to raise money to comfort the woman and, in less than 24 hours, raised more than $175,000 and turned himself and the bus monitor into global celebrities.

“It’s almost insane,” Mr. Sidorov said in an interview Thursday morning. “I just had an idea.”

More at the link! A nice twist on an awful story.

PB

[DLevine]

1. Good man. The world needs more people like him. n/t

[JNelson6563]

2. I hope she goes on a wonderful vacation

among other things.

A good person with an idea and lots of other good people joining the effort. Beautiful!

Julie

[polly7]

3. Aw, I didn't realize she had a son

who died by suicide, and that the kids taunted her over that. How horrible. I hope her soul is healed a bit from this show of love and support.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

9. Yep. And there were people on DU saying she should have sucked it up.

I still haven't been able to watch the video. The picture reminds me of my mother. I just can't do it.

[polly7]

13. Really? I'm glad to have missed that.

She's handled it far better than I could have, and I know what you mean about not being able to watch it. Bullying is so obscene ... to think that children went that far with it just blows the mind.

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kudos to this man and the financial contributors to this lady's relief fund.

Unfortunately "Lord of the Flies" has great truth in it.

Thanks for the thread, Poll Blind.

[msongs]

5. she will have to pay income tax on that, probably at least 50% nt

[laundry_queen]

6. If I was that Toronto man

I would 'hire' her and release a little bit at a time so she can go on vacation and then retire and not have 50% taken away from taxes. That's one tax law in the US I totally don't agree with. In Canada, you don't pay taxes on windfalls like lotto wins. (why should you? the government already pocketed millions from lotto sales!)

[LanternWaste]

10. She will probably buy food and pay bills with some of it too...

She will probably buy food and pay bills with some of it too...

[bullwinkle428]

7. This should be added to that earlier post that linked pictures that will

"restore your faith in humanity"!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=834039

[malaise]

8. Lovely indeed

Rec

[Poll_Blind]

11. UPDATE: Total now over $220,000! (LINK)

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/More-than-220G-raised-for-taunted-bus-monitor-3651791.php

[wendylaroux]

12. It would be nice

if she would never have to step a foot on that bus again. Mr. Sidorov is one good egg.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

14. Great news.

She shouldn't be working anyhow. Hopefully this will set her up so she can enjoy time with her grandchildren and not have to work a menial job for insurance and extra income.