Humboldt Broncos fundraiser sets new Canadian record

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – In the days following a tragic bus crash in Saskatchewan which killed 15 people, including several members of the Humboldt Broncos junior hockey team, there has been a tidal wave of support and generosity from all over the world.

In less than four days, the crowdfunding effort for those affected by the crash has shattered the Canadian record for online fundraising. It’s also among GoFundMe’s top five crowdfunding pages ever, coming close to the fund for victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

As of 12 p.m. PT Tuesday, Sylvie Kellington’s GoFundMe page has brought in over $8 million from over 94,000 individual donors.

GoFundMe CEO Rob Solomon says their next-largest Canadian fundraiser followed the Fort MacMurray wildfire in 2016, which brought in just over $1 million.

“It’s unprecedented,” he says. “We’ve never seen anything like this in Canada.”

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Solomon says unlike typical fundraisers, which draw support from family, friends, and the local community, the Humboldt Broncos campaign has drawn support from all across Canada, and from 65 other countries.

“I think it’s because the connectivity everyone felt to these kids… everyone in Canada knew a kid like this. They’re their sons, they’re their daughters, they’re their cousins… I think people just felt a connection to wanting to help,” Solomon says.

 

Kellington’s campaign started Friday night immediately following the tragedy with a goal of just $10,000. Soloman says his company has been in contact with her, as well as the Humboldt Broncos organization, to connect them with people more experienced in managing and distributing millions of dollars in donated cash.

Details around exactly who will receive how much money in this case remains a work in progress.

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