Richmond Times-Dispatch
More than $130,000 has been raised for a homeless man in Boston who found and returned a backpack full of money last week.
The fundraising effort was started by Ethan Whittington of Midlothian, who saw a story about the homeless man, Glen James, and wanted to do something for him.
James, who once worked as a Boston courthouse employee and has been homeless since 2005, found the backpack with $2,400 in cash and nearly $40,000 in traveler’s checks Saturday evening. He flagged down a police officer and handed it over.
Whittington, 27, was so moved by James’ good deed that he created a fundraising page for the man on a crowd funding website, hoping to raise a few hundred dollars. He followed it with a quick tweet to his handful of followers.
What happened next far exceeded his modest hopes.
The men’s story has appeared in newspapers across the country and around the world, with news organizations as far as Australia and as remote as Iran featuring the tale on their websites.
As the story has spread, the donations have grown.
Whittington said that in addition to cash, people have been contacting him about giving food, clothes and furniture.
“It’s crazy to see what people can do when they come together to achieve one goal,” Whit-
tington wrote on the website when donations passed $100,000 Thursday. “Imagine the possibilities!”
The goal now is to raise $250,000.
Whittington, who was not available for comment Friday, said this week that he would like to find a financial planner or lawyer willing to work pro bono to administer the money for James.
His hope is to create a trust fund or annuity for James. “It’s his money. He can do what he wants to with it.”
To donate to James, visit www. go-
LLLovio@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6348