Football player wants to do GoFundMe end run
Dear Amy: I just received a GoFundMe request from the mother of a young man who wants to travel with his football team to play an out-of-state game.
His coach helped him put together the request. There was no mention of what this young man is doing to earn money for the trip -- just the begging.
His parents both work and live a country club life.
They have not yet contributed to the page.
I can easily contribute, but I just feel that this "ask" puts me on the spot, since it will be obvious if I don't contribute.
What say you?
-- Wondering Friend
Dear Wondering: For the few who don't know, GoFundMe allows people to set up online accounts to ask people -- friends, contacts and strangers -- for donations.
From your narrative, it seems probable that the football players are being encouraged to "earn" or otherwise raise the money to travel.
Asking for donations is not the same as earning. And in encouraging this method of raising money, this coach is undermining one of the positive lessons learned on the sports field: the value of hard work. Does the wide receiver wait on the field and "ask" for the ball? No -- he runs and works and positions himself for the catch.
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