Fundraising Drives In Bergen County Rose Over Last Year, GoFundMe Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Families who can't afford to bury a loved one, have unexpected medical expenses, or face a large rent increase sometimes run out of options and turn to the internet to raise funds.

This year, according to the fundraising platform GoFundMe, requests for help in Bergen County using their site have climbed by more than 25 percent since last year.

According to Madison Jones, a spokesperson for GoFundMe, in Bergen County, more than 4,700 fundraisers were launched so far this year, compared to 3,522 fundraisers by this time last year.

The trend mirrors a statewide trend, Jones said Tuesday.

More than 54,000 fundraisers were launched this year in New Jersey, more than a 25 percent increase from fundraisers started last year.

In Hudson and Bergen Counties, more than 9,000 fundraisers were launched this year compared to more than 7,000 fundraisers last year, she said.

The most generous donor in New Jersey donated more than 350 times, she noted.

The fastest-growing categories statewide were competitions, charity, and business.

Bergen County Boy Battles Cancer, And More

Some of the biggest fundraisers in Bergen County were, she said:

• A Father’s Fight: Help a Quad-Amputee Dad Rebuild His Life: A fundraiser launched in Bergen County in February for a 44-year-old dad who went to the hospital with "flu-like symptoms which quickly escalated into bacterial pneumonia," according to his page. He ended up losing his limbs when the bacteria spread. Over $360,000 was raised.
• Remembering Chris Bernard: Please Support His Family: A fundraiser for a young father in Englewood who died unexpectedly on New Year's Day, with over $240,000 raised.
• Join Us in Daniel's Battle with Neuroblastoma: A fundraiser started in Haworth for a little boy battling cancer, with over $150,000 raised.

'When Needs Grow'

Jones said that GoFundMe would not speculate on reasons for the increase in fundraisers, but pointed to a statement from CEO Tim Cadogan, who said, “Whether people turn to the vast, engaged community on our platform to celebrate life’s greatest achievements or to support loved ones, neighbors, or causes close to their hearts, our goal is to make that easier ... What we continue to see is that when needs grow, individuals and nonprofits respond with even more generosity.”

KFF, an independent health care research and polling firm, noted that health care costs in America traditionally rise faster than inflation, and that out-of-pocket costs have continued to rise.

Personal economic indicators like unemployment are on the rise as well, according to published reports. Unemployment for November was 4.6 percent, according to the federal government, which news reports said was the highest rate in four years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said Tuesday that a year ago, the rate was 4.2 percent.