GoFundMe announced Thursday that the homeless veteran who accused a couple of spending nearly $400,000 in donation money meant for him will get the entire amount of funds that he personally didn’t spend back, as part of the “GoFundMe Guarantee.”
NBC reports that a spokesperson for GoFundMe stated that Bobbitt will get his entire $400,000 even if his attorneys cannot recover it all from a couple accused of taking the donation money and spending it on lavish vacations and other items. Earlier this week, the organization gave Bobbitt $20,000 to assist him while his lawyers investigate the case.
“Johnny will be made whole and we’re committing that he’ll get the balance of the funds that he has not yet received or benefited from. GoFundMe’s goal has always been to ensure Johnny gets support he deserves,” a statement from GoFundMe read.
Last year, Bobbitt’s story made national headlines after he gave his last $20 to Katelyn McClure after she ran out of gas while on Interstate 95 in Kensington, Pennsylvania. While McClure waited inside her car, Bobbitt, who told her the area is unsafe and to lock her doors, walked to a nearby gas station, bought a red gas can and filled it with gas. He then brought the gas can back to McClure’s car and filled the tank.
Afterward, McClure and her boyfriend, Mark D’Amico, created a GoFundMe fundraiser for Bobbitt, in an attempt to repay him helping McClure. The fundraiser ended up attracting around 14,000 people who donated $400,000, specifically to help the homeless veteran obtain a home, transportation, and a new start in life. Yet, according to Bobbitt, the couple kept the majority of donations to themselves.
Good Samaritan Johnny Bobbitt to receive $400K from @GoFundMe: https://t.co/Xal9wz18v4 pic.twitter.com/4cI4v6dxtU
— Bucks County Courier Times (@CourierTimes) September 7, 2018