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Evan Leedy's college classes are sidelined this week by interviews, an emotional meeting and plans for administering a financial windfall. His Wayne State professors surely will understand.
The 19-year-old has been in a whirlwind since the morning of Super Bowl Sunday, when he posted a GoFundMe pitch on behalf of carless commuter James Robertson of Detroit, who he read about on that day's Free Press front page. Leedy posts a "James Fundraiser Update" at his Facebook page Tuesday night:
I cannot believe I am typing this right now, but $243,000 has been donated so far. Every time I feel blown away by this, something even more amazing happens.
We are getting the car situation figured out! When James was asked what his car of choice would be, he said he's always loved the Ford Taurus. Suburban Ford has stepped up to donate a 2014 Ford Taurus!!
We are working out the final details on that and are hoping to reveal the car to him on Friday just in time for him to drive it to work.
Amazingly enough, this story has gone worldwide. James and I have had interviews with radio and television stations today as far as Russia and Australia. It still doesn't feel real to me how fast this grew in a matter of days.
That total, by the way, exceeds $252,000 an hour after Leedy's post.
Tuesday morning article:
The true heroes in a Detroit saga gone global are marathon commuter James Robertson and journalist Bill Laitner.
Two days after Laitner's Free Press article on Robertson's long work commute by bus and foot touched readers near and far, a secondary hero is earning attention.
Evan Leedy: "It's been amazing to see what can happen if a lot of people come together." (Facebook photos)
Evan Leedy, a 19-year-old computer science geek, was among those moved by Robertson's need for a car.
"I was incredibly inspired by James' story," he tells Deadline Detroit on Tuesday via Facebook message. "So many people were commenting about how they could donate and a lot of people sounded willing to help."
The Wayne State student from Troy started a GoFundMe page seeking gifts to buy Robertson a car. "I linked the fundraiser to the Free Press article and it took off," he adds.
"Took off" understates the propulsive effect that shot contributions above $230,000 in two days.
"It's been amazing to see what can happen if a lot of people come together to support a great cause," Leedy says in his online response. "Most of the donations have been small, but they've all added up."
The fund-raising organizer met his beneficiary Monday night at Mr. B's Food & Spirits in Rochester, as Laitner describes in his latest Freep follow-up.
"It was a wonderful meeting," Danielle Leedy of Macomb Township says in a Facebook post about her son's reaction. "Evan said he's one of the most humble men he has ever met. . . . Evan didn't get home until 2 in the morning."
The college student says his mother and father, Randy, "are proud and they have been so supportive throughout this whole journey."
The college student, 19, and James Robertson, the 56-year-old plastics factory worker, met Monday night in downtown Rochester.
In a phone interview, Danielle Leedy says: "We are all flabbergasted. . . . This has turned into something he never imagined. We're very proud of the way he's handling it "
Her family hopes for a larger, lasting benefit from the attention to Robertson's tough commute. "It really highlights the need for public transportation and the lack of it, especially in Oakland County," the 44-year-old parent adds. "Maybe this is bigger than just the car and James."
Evan Leedy graduated from Dakota High, part of Chippewa Valley Public Schools, and plans to stay at Wayne for a master's degree in business administration and management.
We initially hesitated about doing this article. Leedy didn't seek publicity, and a Deadline reader this morning anonymously criticizes what he or she calls "excessive coverage on the creator of the fundraiser. He typed up a few paragraphs and clicked submit, the fundraiser went viral thanks to the hard work of the Free Press, most importantly Mr. Robertson."
That's true, yet so is a reply by Hank Reardon:
"While you criticize the guy that hit the keyboard and started this, what did you do when you read the story? Mr. Leedy DID something."
These are among other readers' comments Tuesday at our Facebook page:
► Well done young man. You represent the best of Detroit -- hope, involvement, community and decency. -- J.J. Luranc, Royal Oak
► Helping someone who is a positive contributor to society -- fantastic!!! -- Marc Voorhees, Rochester Hills
► Great job on this young man's behalf! He saw a need and did something more than read the article and complain. He had no idea the story would take off the way it did, he did it from his heart -- Shaniya Jarrett, Southfield
► One person CAN make a difference. -- Cindy Dotson, Novi
► Wonderful young man. -- Florence Slominski, Sterling Heights
► What a great young man. -- Pat Hoffman-Paloulian, Rochester Hills
