(WTXL) - GoFundMe will be refunding thousands of people who helped raise more than $20 million to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
According to the latest update on the GoFundMe page, the creator of the fundraiser, a triple amputee Iraq war veteran from Florida named Brian Kolfage, is offering refund donors after failing to reach the $1 billion goal.
However, Kolfage isn't giving up. Instead he says he has created a non-profit Florida Corporation named “We Build the Wall, Inc.," to receive the GoFundMe contributions.
"When I created this fundraiser, I said if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors. I am honoring that commitment today," Kolfage wrote. "We will promptly refund your donation unless you tell us you approve our new plan for action."
GoFundMe is offering people the option to give their donation to We Build the Wall Inc. or get a refund.
"As explained in update #18 on the campaign, you have until April 10, 2019 to let GoFundMe know if you’d like your donation to be sent to the new 501(c)(4) organization: We Build The Wall, Inc. If we don't hear from you by April 10, we will refund your donation."
(WTXL) - A GoFundMe to help pay for a proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico has raised nearly $19 million in less than three weeks.
The GoFundMe was started by a triple amputee Iraq war veteran from Florida named Brian Kolfage.
His goal is to raise $1 billion to donate to the Trump Administration. So far, as of 12 p.m. on Friday, more than 300,000 people have helped raise $18.9 million.
"Democrats are going to stall this project by every means possible and play political games to ensure President Trump doesn’t get his victor. They'd rather see President Trump fail, than see America succeed," Kolfage wrote. "However, if we can fund a large portion of this wall, it will jumpstart things and will be less money Trump has to secure from our politicians."
Though the campaign seems to be a hit, with one anonymous donor dropping $50,000 to help, the $1 billion is a long way off from the $5 billion President Donald Trump initially requested to fund the wall.
As the partial government shutdown enters day 14, AP reports Democratic legislation to re-open the government without funding the wall is going nowhere in the Senate after House Democrats passed a plan Thursday evening.
Kolfage has promises to return every cent if the goal is not met.
GoFundMe for Pres. Trump’s wall raises $6.5 million in 3 days
LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - A triple amputee veteran started a GoFundMe page to raise $1 billion to build the Mexico border wall proposed by President Trump, according to the GoFundMe Page.
Brian Kolfage described himself as a Purple Heart military veteran and said the page could work because the government has accepted large private donations before, so this page is no different. He used rhetoric similar to the president’s in arguing for the wall, saying, “Too many Americans have been murdered by illegal aliens and too many illegals are taking advantage of the United States taxpayers with no means of ever contributing to our society.”
Kolfage believes that if every person who voted for Trump pledges $80, the wall can be built. His calculations say that this adds up to $5 billion and he wants to raise as much as he can. GoFundMe’s cap is set at $1 billion.
Kolfage leaves his real name, email, verified Facebook page, and other information to prove that this page is not a scam. He promises that 100 percent of the donations will go to the wall by the Treasury Department issuing government savings bonds, as one idea. He wrote that he has contacted the Trump Administration and secured a point of contact.
You can find Kolfage’s GoFund The Wall Facebook page HERE. He promises to return every penny if the goal is not achieved.
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