I Just Gave Away $500,000

Here’s what happened.

Four years ago, at the height of a global pandemic, the world was cold and dark.

Everything, it seemed, was canceled.

My husband suffered through Stage V renal failure, and in August of 2020, he was the recipient of a living kidney donation, made possible because my mom donated one of her kidneys to a stranger.

My husband’s kidney donor, an electrician from Texas, heard about people who donated kidneys altruistically on a podcast. During his lunch break, he went online and learned more about it. He decided to get tested to see if he was a candidate for donation, which is an involved, multi-day process. (I have been through it, so I can attest to how thorough it is.)

When the donor decided to move forward he had no intended recipient. He just said, "Give this to someone who needs it.”

After a transplant, the recipient (but fortunately, not the donor) is very fragile medically. So much must be carefully managed: the drug cocktail, the surgical recovery, and your body’s response to having its immune system suppressed.

This is true under the best of times. Now add in a pandemic, at a time when no treatments for Covid were yet available. The statistics were not good for people in Chris’s position – as many as ⅓ of people with Stage V renal failure who got Covid died, and a high percentage lost their transplanted organs. Needless to say, it was an extremely isolating time.

And while your individual circumstances may have differed, I know many of you felt alone, frustrated, scared, and hopeless in December of 2020.

It was during these darkest of times that the Governerds were born.

Chris and I were alone in a frigid Air BnB in Minnesota in December. He was at his four month medical checkup, and while things were looking good, he was still exhausted and cold. He fell asleep at 6:00pm every night.

I posted an idea to the 50,000 people who followed me at the time: what if y’all sent me your tiny Venmo balances and we raised $1,000? I could find someone who really needed it and make their holiday season a little less bleak.

Instead of $1,000, we raised $100,000 over the next two weeks. I cried on the internet more than once, marveling at the light I saw pouring in through every crack in the darkness.

We gave the money away to people who were nominated for assistance. Four years later, this community has now raised and given away $11.2 million.

We’ve forgiven more than $300 million in medical debt. We’ve helped deliver millions of pounds of needed supplies to victims of natural disasters. We’ve fed thousands of children in war-torn countries, helped teachers get what they need for their classrooms, and made sure that single moms could pick out a toy for their five year olds.

This year, we raised $515,000 to give away, and I just spent the last three weeks distributing it. We gave it away in the form of gift cards and cash assistance. And today, I want to share with you some of the impact of what your tiny donation has done. Some of you sent $.50. Some $5, some $50.

If you’ve donated, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Without you, this wouldn't be possible.

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“Oh my! I have just received a wonderful gift from the governerds. After our family lost our home to a fire this fall, our community showed up for us in big ways. I was overwhelmed by the generosity of many. But this gift hits in a different way. The fact that strangers have shown up and have been willing to become part of the support system of people they don't even know fills me with so much joy. There's good in the world.”

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“Wow! I just don’t even know what to say….

My son was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease (Fsgs) at the end of 5th grade. He ended up having to get a kidney transplant on December 8, 2022. Sadly, his disease returned to attack his new kidney within days while he was still in the hospital. It often comes back in people with Fsgs…. We had to live in Rochester for 5 1/2 months -where we did so many treatments: chemo stuff, other immune killing stuff, all in conjunction with 6 days a week blood plasma exchanges - because what’s attacking his kidney seems to be in his plasma… so we keep removing it, and it keeps coming back.

And, right after we moved home BOTH of our vehicles died on the same day!

We are now 2 years post transplant and we are still going to Mayo multiple times a week for plasma exchange, and other trial treatments, to try to stop his disease…. We had a bit of money in 401k we took out to live on, and we are trying to make ends meet, and praying we get Cabot healed before our money runs out…

So, all that to say -we are SO GRATEFUL for the Target gift cards! They will help SO MUCH with groceries!”

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“I just wanted to say how grateful I am to you and your community.

It's been a rough couple of years and even though I try to keep a good attitude - it has felt like one thing after another. A second cancer diagnosis, recovery, medical bills, emergency house issues, and so on - has been so exhausting and expensive. I've done my very best to maintain my good attitude and good credit, not missing bills, getting a 2nd job, cutting out things that aren't necessities, but it's still been tough managing it all on my own.

I've been planning for the new year and trying to stay optimistic - but this Christmas season has been the hardest I've experienced in years.

All that to say - I am incredibly grateful to you and your community. This gift came to me at such a perfect time that I almost couldn't believe it. For the first time in months, I feel like I will be able to sleep through the night tonight.

Even though I did my best, words cannot describe how your gift has brought me such tremendous relief.

Thank you - and thank you for the peace of mind I'll have tonight when I go to bed.”

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“There are not enough words! Thank you doesn’t even begin to do justice for the gratitude in feeling for this amazing gift! This year has been rough financially! And, it just seems like one blow after another! The day I received your email my car failed emissions and repairs are about $1000. Christmas will be had to the fullest because of your help, and the left overs I’ll be able to allocate towards groceries for the next bit to help redistribute funds to help pay for the repairs.

This Christmas will be much sweeter this year. My heart is overflowing with gratitude and thanks for this amazing gift and for all that you and the amazing Governerd community do to help and support! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! From the bottom of my heart!”

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“My cancer prognosis changed to a terminal diagnosis and I’ve been grappling with that while trying to stay strong and positive for my wife, our four kids and my mom and grandmother who have Alzheimer’s, as I am their caregiver.

The treatments I have been receiving to try to extend my time here have been very hard and I’m not as physically strong as I was even a few months ago.

Aside from the daily struggle financially just with bills and mundane expenses, we had resigned ourselves to a very modest Christmas of mostly just taking joy in our time together as a family, and it was enough. We are grateful for many things despite the bad news regarding my health.

Though content overall, I’ll admit that inside I was deeply sad that my struggles were going to mean I would be unable to have the joy of giving much of anything material to the most important people in my life who have been standing shoulder to shoulder with me and giving me all their love and support.

Your gift cards will help dramatically not just in a practical way with some needs we have had, but will also let me express my own love language which is to give. Not giving extravagantly, but giving in small meaningful ways. I was very sad that this holiday season I wouldn’t be able to have even that small joy.

Because of you I will.

You’ve given me the gift, not just of money, but of the joy a dad has when his children’s eyes light up with the magic of Christmas morning. To me that is priceless and I am grateful far beyond what my meager words can express.”

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“I still can’t believe this is real. These gift cards came just when I had accepted that I wouldn’t be able to provide a Christmas for my daughter. My 18 year old son passed away in March. I have been paying catch up on bills while also trying to make payments to the hospital that tried so hard to save his life. My 16 year old daughter understands our situation and wasn’t expecting any gifts. My daughter is an incredible person that is grieving her brother while maintaining good grades and helping me at home. She deserves the world. You and the Governerds have helped me be able to get not only fun gifts for her but also a new coat, snow boots and winter clothing. There’s also enough left over that she will be able to have a good birthday in the spring! I am forever grateful for this gift and the reminder that incredible goodness exists in this world.”

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“I am deeply moved by the generous gift cards you have sent to me. I was brought to tears by what a wonderful gesture of giving this is.

They are so needed and so appreciated. It's not just the gift of money to get things I need to sustain my monthly needs, but please know that it is the sense of sheer relief knowing I CAN get those things. That relief is a gift as well. I know this is made possible by you and others who possess a true sense of giving and sharing...... and to all of you, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you!

Your actions remind me of a story I once heard that I think of often and try to aspire to, as you all clearly do......

A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation.

The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But a few days later, he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. "I've been thinking," he said. "I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back to you in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone."

Sometimes it's not the wealth you have, but what's inside you that others need.”

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“I cannot tell you what a blessing this is to my family. We are in a season filled with unexpected loss, and this gift was truly such a bright spot in the midst of a whole lot of hardship. I told my daughters that a whole bunch of people came together to spread love and kindness to others, and I wish I could somehow show you the face my youngest made when she said with awe ‘and they picked us.’ From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”

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“Wow! I cannot express to you enough how grateful I am for the gift cards. After losing my husband this past March, both the kids and I have been struggling. This holiday season has been especially hard on us. We miss him dearly and it’s difficult knowing we will never have him here with us again. Thank you for your generosity, it is beyond appreciated. Living in far northern WI we don’t have access to many stores so Amazon is something we use regularly….from household supplies to even clothing. The gift cards will be put to good use. Thank you for helping lighten the financial load this Christmas.”

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“I was literally at my appointment at the cancer center when my friend called me this afternoon. The tears just started streaming down my face.

This generous gift couldn’t have come at a better time. As I am still unable to return to work, due to the side effects of the new oral chemotherapy drug that my oncologist team currently has me taking. As a single mom, I have been so stressed about presents for my kids and just everyday essentials. While also being so fatigued from treatments.

I am so grateful for these Target gift cards, for not only will they help me buy gifts for my kids, but they will also help me to buy food!

It just warms my heart knowing that there are people out there like yourself and your followers that are so giving towards others that are in need! These last couple years have been brutal for my family, and it was easy to fall into the darkness of the days. But receiving this generous gift reminds me how truly blessed I am!

Blessed to be alive, blessed to have family and friends who have been there for me, blessed to be the recipient of this gift.”

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“I would like to thank you for the gift of Target cards. My daughter nominated me this year after a particularly tough 6 months fighting cancer. She has been by my side through it all. When she nominated me, she thought I'd maybe receive a $50 gift card - you can imagine our surprise when I opened the email to see $1,000 in gift cards. It brought tears to my eyes. What a blessing to receive this gift and I wanted to make sure and thank you and let you know how much it means to me.”

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“I am blown away by your generosity. I am attempting to find the right words to respond to this gift but fear I don't have them yet. I am still going to try and find them.

My professional mentor of over a decade-turned-very dear friend called me this evening to let me know I should check my personal email account for this message from you because she had nominated me for something a few weeks ago.

I'll admit I saw the email earlier in the day and thought to myself ‘no way... definitely too good to be true... perhaps this poor woman has been hacked and emails are going out on her behalf...’ and didn't act on the email.

My partner and I have gone through what one would call a hard year. This past year we have been battling physical and mental illness, the sudden loss of a very dear friend, a very sick mother/mother in law (cancer, brain tumor), child custody anguish, and supporting another mother/mother in law with the risk of her homelessness and addiction. We love our family and friends so dearly but have seen very dark days where we've both admitted we have wondered how we are going to get out of bed and put one foot in front of the other.

We are beyond grateful and, quite frankly, very emotional to receive such an unexpected and generous gift - and at such a poignant time of year (this is going to change the Christmas of three little girls as well as ease the burden of everyday cost of living).

Have I mentioned we are overwhelmingly grateful? I think perhaps we are still in shock. My friend who nominated me/us is one of the most pure, wonderful and loving souls I know. She is intelligent and inspires me daily and the fact that she follows you speaks volumes.”

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“Yes, some people do this out of the goodness of their heart. Yes, some people use their influence and time this way. Yes, there is GOOD in the world.”

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“Over twenty years ago I deployed to Iraq. During that time in Iraq, I lost my father, my platoon sergeant, and multiple friends. After that deployment on a high of pride and protection, I swore to never let anything happen to my family and set out on a personal mission to make sure they were cared for.

Two years ago my teenage son was paralyzed, and I’ve never felt so helpless in my life. We lived in Boston for four months. I left my job and hardly worked, cashing in every asset I had and just making sure he was cared for and remodeled my house in between trips to Boston. It was a complete transition for us all. At first my son was unbearable. He seemed fortunate to still be alive but all of the uncertainties scared him. I can’t tell you how many times I prayed as I drove home crying, not for him to walk, but just for him to find peace.

Two years later I found myself in a similar situation. My back injury from the Army which I evaded for years, finally caught up to me. To escape everything I went through in Iraq, I worked over 100 hours a week just to not remember my experience. Lifting, standing, sitting and almost everything in between is sometimes paralyzing.

I wanted to explain this to you just to let you know how appreciative we truly are of your generous gift. It will help give my five children the Christmas that they used to remember and relieve some of our stress.

My son is excelling now by the way. Complete turn around from two years ago. He’s accepted his paralysis and strives to make an honor roll. He truly is a remarkable child.”

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There are hundreds more messages I could share, but please know that what you do makes a difference. And because that is true, we all must decide what kind of difference we want to make. Thank you for being here, and for choosing to make a difference in the hearts, minds, and financial realities of families who needed a miracle this holiday season.

Sending you and yours so much joy this holiday.

—Sharon