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Update, 11:30 Monday: The fund-raising appeal that Amanda ("Mandi") Emerick posted Friday to help cover medical bills for her uninsured dad, attacked pickup driver Steve Utash, now has more than $115,000 from nearly 2,800 people.
"There will be so many more expenses than just the medical bills alone," a Downriver area donor posts Monday at the fund drive page. "I pray that he comes out physically and mentally healthy, that the donations cover 100% of all expenses and living expenses as well as leav[ing] a decent amount left over. It is the least to get after going through such a horrible thing!"
Original article, April 6:
On this spring Sunday, two weeks before Easter, behold uplifting evidence of compassion, community and humanity:
Almost 2,300 people from Southeast Michigan and other states have donated over $96,000 online in three days to help the family of east-side Detroit street beating victim Steve Utash.
"To . . . see close to $100,000 from complete strangers like myself makes you realize there still is some good in this world," donor Jason Hayes comments Sunday afternoon.
Mob violence erupted Wednesday afternoon near this east-side Detroit intersection.
One of the suburban tree trimmer's daughters, 27-year-old Mandi Emerick of Roseville, posted an appeal at this GoFundMe page on Friday, two days after her dad's pickup accidentally hit a 10-year-boy. "Please help the family raise money to pay his medical expenses. Your monetary help is greatly appreciated and your prayers more so," says a message below a widely reposted snapshot of Utash with his three adult children -- all beaming at a happier time.
The driver, who was robbed during the attack by a dozen or more teens and men, was reported to be in a medically induced coma this weekend.
The digital solicitation went viral amid national news coverage of mob violence unleashed when Utash, 54, stopped to check on the boy at Balfour and Morang. The fund-raising page has been shared 8,300 times and the response exceeded the family's $50,000 goal within a day.
"I'm so happy to see the generosity by so many," posts Stephen McGarry of Rochester Hills on Saturday night.
Gifts vary from $10 to at least $250, a partial sampling shows. One came this weekend from Northern California, another from New Mexico.
These are among recent comments posted there by donors showing their names:
• "Still some good:" When I first made my donation, you guys had $5,700 raised. To look now and see close to $100,000 from complete strangers like myself makes you realize there still is some good in this world! I hope your dad a speedy recovery and you guys can move on from this back to a normal life. -- Jason Hayes
• "Make the world better:" Our prayers are with the family. No one should have to endure what Steve endured. Let's not let one incident of ignorance make us like those who were at fault. We can be the ones who make the world better by doing and saying positive things, and being the catalyst for peace. -- Tim Burks
• "Way more good people:" I am truly grateful that people like your father still exsist in this world. I pray that this doesn't harden him and hopefully when he wakes up from this he has no memory of it. I love to see people coming together for those in their time of need and I do still believe that there are way more good people on this earth like him than there are bad like the boys that did this to him." -- Crystal Marie
• "Doing the right thing:" Godspeed to you for a complete recovery. You were doing the right thing. Wrong place, wrong time. -- Scott A. Soucy, $50 donor
• "Many prayers:" Many prayers for your father, I hope to see him awake and with you all soon. -- Kristen Chedister, $25 donor
• "Generosity by so many:" Prayers for your father. I am so happy to see the generosity by so many for your father. I have posted to my FB wall asking my friends to consider giving also. -- Stephen McGarry of Rochester Hills, senior manager at Sony Electronics
• "Warms my heart:" Warms my heart to see people from all over giving for nothing in return, but hope that a man will recover. -- Julie Crawford Lovelace of Ypsilanti, mental health therapist
Related coverage at Deadline Detroit:
