A Michigan father of four who became the centre of an extraordinary fundraising campaign after being targeted by social media pranksters has decided to stop accepting donations, despite strangers raising nearly $785,000 for his family. Walter Zerod, a frozen pizza delivery worker for Red Baron, thanked thousands of supporters and encouraged them to redirect their generosity towards other families and charitable organisations ahead of the holiday season. According to reports by The Detroit News, LADbible and Dexerto, Zerod made the announcement on November 5, exactly one week after the fundraiser began attracting widespread attention. The GoFundMe campaign, organised by Arizona resident Luke Oakenshield, had collected $784,273 from approximately 22,800 donors against an original target of $900,000. The decision came after the viral incident transformed what began as an uncomfortable confrontation at a grocery store into a major online fundraising effort.A prank that sparked widespread outrageThe incident involved Zerod stocking frozen pizzas at a Meijer grocery store in Michigan when a social media prankster approached him and asked for the time. As Zerod took out his phone, the individual played a sound resembling an Apple Pay transaction and pretended to have taken $10 from him.What followed was a confrontation that quickly gained traction online.
Michigan Dad Pauses Fundraiser: viral prank target stops at $784,273; urges gifts to others
Walter Zerod, a delivery worker who faced a shocking prank at work, found unexpected financial relief through a GoFundMe campaign that skyrocketed to nearly $785,000. This overwhelming support not only helped him but also highlighted the kindness of strangers. In a selfless move, Zerod chose to pause further donations, encouraging his supporters to extend their generosity to other families in financial hardship…
In brief
A Michigan father of four who became the centre of an extraordinary fundraising campaign after being targeted by social media pranksters has decided to stop accepting donations, despite strangers raising nearly $785,000 for his family. The decision came after the viral incident transformed what began as an uncomfortable confrontation at a grocery store into a major online fundraising effort.A prank that sparked widespread outrageThe incident involved Zerod stocking frozen pizzas at a Meijer grocery store in Michigan when a social media prankster approached him and asked for the time.
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