A New York actor's online fund drive for three Syrians who'll start fresh lives in suburban Detroit is drawing global media coverage.
Since film star Edward Norton launched the campaign Saturday, donations have passed $422,000 and attention has spread beyond this country.
Articles are posted by the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia, Al Bawaba in Amman, Jordan, a news site in British Columbia, Canada, and at least three United Kingdom newspapers.
Domestically, the heartwarming news is picked up by more than a dozen news outlets, including Mashable, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, People, the New York Daily News, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Huffington Post, Vulture, Entertainment Weekly, Patch and Breitbart News.
Thousands of social media users pass along the saga, which is shared 8,300 times on Facebook from USA Today's site and 4,200 times from Entertainment Weekly's.
Original article, Sunday morning:
Chalk it up to the power of words, basic compassion, a show of Americanism or the spirit of this season.
Whatever the impetus -- likely all of the above -- an account of three Syrian civil war survivors coming to Troy stirs readers' emotions and generosity.
Daniel Kang of Troy, a University of Michigan senior, launched a GoFundMe page that has raised $16,352 from 718 people in a week .
Edward Norton: "Let’s reject the 'anti-human’ voices that tell us to fear refugees."
Another of those moved to act is Edward Norton, a 46-year-old actor, filmmaker and activist living in New York City. As a co-founder of CrowdRise, based in Royal Oak, he started a fundraiser there Friday for the threesome movingly introduced through the father's words in a set of seven Faceboook posts last Tuesday by New York photographer-author Brandon Stanton, who'll connect Norton and the recipients.
In Istanbul, Turkey, the Syrian scientist-engineer -- who has stomach cancer -- describes losing his wife and six other family members two years ago in a Syrian missile attack against government opponents.
"Everything ended for us that day," the Michigan-bound immigrant says.
More than 15,000 people have given over $441,000 in tax-deductible gifts as of Wednesday morning. (A nonprofit charity, The Benevolent Society, will distribute the money to the Troy newcomers and 11 other Syrian refugees profiled this month by a New York photojournalist on Facebook, Norton posts.)
A weekend windfall -- $10,000 -- comes from Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, "So happy to support this amazing campaign," he posts Sunday morning.
Norton's appeal says, in part:
I saw this story on one of my favorite sites, Humans of New York, and it moved me to tears. This man has suffered profound loss that would crush the spirit of many people and yet he still passionately wants a chance to contribute positively to the world. If we don’t welcome people like this into our communities and empower his dream of making an impact with his life, then we’re not the country we tell ourselves we are.
Let’s reject the 'anti-human’ voices that tell us to fear refugees and show this man and his family what Americans are really made of. Let’s show that a country built by the energy and dreams of immigrants still believes in brave people who come here with hope for better life.
Everything we raise here will go directly to this family to help the father get the medical treatment he needs to live and pursue his work, to help his family build a new stable life after their tragedy. . . .
If enough of us kick in the price of two frappucinos, we can probably transform the experience of this family and show them that life can deliver healing and kindness, not just heartbreak.
Brandon Stanton: "I've rarely been shaken by a story more than the scientist's." (Facebook photo)
Stanton, the photographer who started the Humans of New York page and compiled a 2013 book of that name, met the silver-haired father and his children last month during a reporting trip to Turkey and Amman, Jordan, "to interview twelve Syrian families that have been cleared for resettlement in America." He was surprised -- and star-struck -- when Norton got in touch Friday, Stanton says on Facebook:
I got an email from Edward Norton, asking if he could host a fundraiser for the scientist in Tuesday’s story. I said: "Of course Edward Norton. Also, you were awesome in Birdman. Also, let’s hang out."
I’ve rarely been shaken by a story more than the scientist’s. His life had been so tragic, but throughout the entire interview, he kept returning to his desire to help mankind. He didn’t want to die before making a contribution to humanity, and he felt that he was running out of time.
While listening to him, I kept imagining how difficult it would be for him to focus on any sort of research while starting a new life in America. Despite his lofty accomplishments, he might have to take whatever job (or two) he could get just to keep up with rent. Hopefully this fundraiser will change that, insuring that he can focus his amazing mind on his dream of changing the world.
100% of funds raised will support the family. . . . All donations are tax-deductible.
Daniel Kang of Troy
How to help
► CrowdRise drive by Edward Norton: Donate here
► GoFundMe drive by Daniel Kang: Give here
Earlier coverage:
From Syria to Troy with Relief: 'I Just Hope That It's Safe', Dec. 10
This war-shattered family from Syria, now in Turkey, will resettle in Troy. (Facebook photo by Brandon Stanton)
