Loading ...Edward Norton raises $375K for Syrian family
Katrease Stafford
Detroit Free Press
The touching story of a Michigan-bound Syrian refugee who lost his wife and daughter in a deadly attack has sparked generosity from all over the world, including actor and filmmaker Edward Norton, who said he was moved to tears by the tale and has raised more than $375,000 for the family.
Humans of New York, a blog founded by Brandon Stanton that features strangers in New York, shared the story of the unnamed man, who said he worked as a scientist in Syria and that he is being resettled in Troy. Stanton recently embarked upon the new series, “The Syrian Americans,” to highlight the voices of refugees.
The story went viral on Facebook last week with thousands of likes, and it even garnered an official response from President Obama, who welcomed the Syrian refugee to the U.S.
Norton — who starred in Fight Club alongside Brad Pitt and in American History X — read the story and decided to launch the fundraiser, which has been officially backed by Humans of New York. The fundraiser, which is called the Scientist, has raised more than $375,000 and donations continue to pour in.
“This man has suffered profound loss that would crush the spirit of many people and yet he still passionately wants a chance to contribute positively to the world,” Norton wrote on the Crowdrise fundraiser site. “If we don’t welcome people like this into our communities and empower his dream of making an impact with his life, then we’re not the country we tell ourselves we are. Let’s reject the ‘anti-human’ voices that tell us to fear refugees and show this man and his family what Americans are really made of. Let’s show that a country built by the energy and dreams of immigrants still believes in brave people who come here with hope for a better life.”
In seven different posts, Stanton told the story of the man who described his life from the time he was raised in Syria to when he lost his wife and a daughter. His wife and a daughter were killed when a missile filled with shrapnel and needles tore through his family’s compound.
The man said he’s been living in Turkey for two years with his surviving son and daughter but hasn’t been allowed to work. The man has since been diagnosed with cancer, according to Stanton, but he hopes to still have a chance to “make a difference in the world.”
Source: www.usatoday.com