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Alabama Man Successfully Crowdfunds So He Can Buy A 20 Piece McNugget Meal
It’s not everyday that you come across a real hero on the Internet. But today, you’ve found one.
Michael Panik, a communications student at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama successfully used the crowdfunding site GoFundMe to raise $10 so he could buy himself a 20 piece Chicken McNugget meal at McDonalds.
Panik explained the motivations behind the campaign.
“A friend and mine were talking about all the ridiculous GoFundMe campaigns we’ve seen recently, basically people just asking for money to buy personal stuff: new equipment, software,” Panik said. “It’s pretty rude, honestly-just begging for money for things you want or need, that ultimately aren’t super expensive, and aren’t true necessities.”
Panik also said that he was a little bitter over the crowdfunding concept since he failed to raise money in the past on similar sites.
“I think that crowd funding is excellent, really, when used the right way,” Panik said. “I had a campaign for $10,000 to make a documentary fail back in the spring, and I’m a little bitter, but I think the concept is there. A lot of people do really spectacular things with money raised through GFM, Kickstarter, and others.”
Panik’s crowdfunding campaign for $10 was met in only a few hours. A man named Michael Brown gave him the money, saying “Enjoy!” in the comments.
Michael Panik Photo Credit: Michael Panik/Facebook
His tongue firmly planted in his cheek, Panik thanked Brown.
“Michael Brown is a truly beautiful soul, devoted to philanthropy, and has the highest honor in my heart,” Panik said. “I sincerely hope to make him proud by using his generous donation to achieve my supreme goal.”
While not in class, Panik works as a web developer with Plexamedia, and as a technical director at a church in Rome, GA. He said that was primarily interested in filmmaking and was focused in producing documentaries. His first feature-length documentary, Thrift Store Symphony is in post-production and will premiere next fall.
“I’m so glad my Chicken McNugget scheme kind of took off just in my network, honestly, Panik said. “I’d love to see more people find this, and realize that maybe, if you want something, you should spend less time asking people for money, and going out there, working, and getting it for yourself.”
Panik wasn’t sure when he would be seeing his windfall.
“I’m not totally sure, but I hope it’s soon,” Panik said. “Ya boy is hungry.”
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Cover Photo: Screenshot/ GoFundme.com
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The Strange But True Story Behind How The Internet Discovered The Identity Of “Grateful Doe” 20 Years After His Death
By Erika Hills
After over twenty years, a South Carolina family is able to have closure thanks to the help of some resourceful Internet sleuths.
Known only as “Grateful Doe” for two decades, Jason Patrick Callahan was involved in a fatal Emporia, VA car accident in June 1995 while following The Grateful Dead’s 1995 tour.
According to The Washington Post, authorities were able to quickly identify the driver but not the passenger.
Due to the extent of Callahan’s injuries, it prevented them from accurately sketching or describing him. Callahan was hitch-hiking along the East Coast, WSOC-TV reported, which further increased the difficulty in identification.
On Dec. 9, the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUS) confirmed that Grateful Doe was 19-year-old Callahan from Myrtle Beach.
Volunteers and amateur detectives on the true-crime forum WebSleuths began working on Grateful Doe’s case in July 2005.
Ten years ago users on the site started cross-referencing the case with hundreds of entries in the missing persons’ database, The Washington Post reported.
WMBF-TV reported that following an updated facial reconstruction of Grateful Doe this past year, the case caught fire once more. This time, users on Reddit and Facebook joined the efforts to give him a name and his family closure. On the Grateful Doe subreddit and Facebook page, many people came together to post tips, updates, photos, and even the original newspaper article describing the accident.
Information indicating that Grateful Doe may be Jason Callahan was received on social media a year ago. It led to the Myrtle Beach Police Department working diligently alongside other agencies to link both cases by collecting DNA samples.
As they waited in anticipation, many people following the case expressed their elation in the mere possibility of it being solved after so long.
11 months later, upon the news of Callahan being identified, people from different corners of the Internet united.The relentless support and hard work of countless strangers, in a mission to bring a name to the nameless and closure for a family, has finally paid off.
“Rest in peace, Jason Callahan. I am so thrilled you have your name back,” a Reddit user commented on Dec. 10.Have a news tip? Send it to [email protected] Like to write? You can become a Rise News contributor.
Cover Photo Credit: Grateful Doe Facebook Group
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Trump Supporter Wants Hillary To Denounce Beyonce For Bringing Jay-Z To Red Lobster
Seriously.
This happened.
On national television.
#millennialoutreach
Betsy on Hillary: But she likes, QUOTE “I came to slay bitch, when he effs me good, I take his ass to Red Lobster”? #CNN #Beyonce #DonLemon pic.twitter.com/9pJ40cg1DJ
— Creole [krēˌōl] (@foxaylove) October 11, 2016
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