Detroit traffic officer Linita Edge received a substantial financial boost when TikTok influencer Zachery Dereniowski highlighted her monetary struggles to his 16 million followers. After initially gifting Edge $500 and a trip to a Detroit Tigers baseball game, Dereniowski launched a GoFundMe campaign for Edge, who’s a recent widow and the sole provider for her family.
The video reached 9.5 million views and her touching story and vibrant personality moved those watching. The campaign raised over $54,000 within three days, and Edge was given a check for $50,000 at the baseball stadium, prompting her to remark on how the encounter had changed her life.
She fell to her knees in amazement, broke down in happy tears, and later said “Who knew that a T-shirt would change my life?” That was a reference to Dereniowski initially asking Edge if she would buy a jersey from him for $1 and if she was a fan of the Detroit Tigers. The TikToker says he hopes this “viral kindness is contagious and creates a ripple effect in the lives of people who have watched this video.”
Source: Insider