Lyra Martin Culture 07.06.2022 08:Jul AM EDT

Fourth of July Shooting: GoFundMe For the Boy Who Lost Both Parents Gathers $1.8 Million

The GoFundMe campaign raised more than $1.8 Million for a youngster whose parents were killed during the 4th of July Parade. At least 34,742 people gave to the GoFundMe effort, with the biggest donation at $18,000.

GoFundMe Campaign For a 2-Year Old Boy Raises More than $1.8 Million

As of Wednesday morning, (July 6), a confirmed GoFundMe campaign for a 2-year-old kid who lost both of his parents to gun violence on Monday had collected more than $1.8 million and climbed. At a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, seven people were killed and several more injured, and the boy's parents were shot and killed.

The GoFundMe campaign received contributions from at least 34,742 individuals, with the highest gift standing at $18,000 as of the writing of this article. Both strangers and family friends have contributed.

When a shooter allegedly began shooting into the crowd from a rooftop perch, the orphaned kid, Aiden McCarthy, was allegedly watching the procession with his parents. It is unclear whether the boy's parents, Irina McCarthy, 35, and Kevin McCarthy, 37, were intentionally targeted or were just unfortunate when the gunshots killed them.

In the middle of the turmoil, other attendees led the kid to the rally's sidelines. Later, he met up with his grandparents and other relatives once again. The infant survived, the grandpa said, because his father shielded him with his body.

Currently, the youngster has a GoFundMe account created by members of the community, and he is getting thousands of dollars per hour, reaching the $1.8 million milestones with the most significant gift of $18,000 from just one person.

People searching for assistance with medical fees, rehabilitation costs, and burial costs may find it on the GoFundMe landing page that has been set up with all of the verified campaigns for the Highland Park Massacre victims.

Burger King Employee Who Never Missed Work Raises $300,000 on GoFundMe

Kevin Ford worked as a chef at Burger King for 27 years at the McCarren Las Vegas Airport branch. He never missed a day of work. Therefore, management rushed to acquire a gift to congratulate him for his dedication when he came to work on the 27th anniversary and made jokes about his time working at the firm.

He was gifted with a string backpack, a movie ticket, a lanyard, a coffee cup, and some candy.

Ford thanked his employees and opened gifts in a TikTok video that immediately amassed millions of views and likes. Online viewers expressed amazement and dismay at the little recompense after his many years of dedication, while other viewers commended his optimism and humility.

Following the popularity of the video, his daughter Sernya Ford created a GoFundMe campaign with the goal of raising only $200 more to enable him to see his grandkids.

Ford started working as a single parent at the firm and has remained there because of the employer-provided health insurance plan, she said.

To the family's amazement, the page collected over $329,000 and was still going strong when this was published. Actor David Spade gave $5,000 and wished Ford luck on Instagram, among other noteworthy contributors.

Ford flew to New York after the GoFundMe, and the video both gained a lot of attention when he appeared on the Today program on NBC and was reunited with his grandkids live on air.