True Stories of Good People GoFundMe

Latanya DeVaughn believes that every neighborhood deserves a bookstore—even if it's just for one day. 

When John Barry and Alison Brown lost their 22-year-old son Ian in a tragic accident, their hearts were shattered. They knew how much he meant to them, but only when over 600 people showed up to his memorial did they begin to realize what a profound impact their quiet, caring son made on the community as a whole. As a way to process their grief, they decided to give back to the community by spreading the love of Ian’s favorite outdoor activities and spreading Ian’s legacy of kindness and compassion.

Claudia Wheeler is a full-time mother, as well as an elementary school teacher based in Jersey City, NJ. On top of all of her other responsibilities in life, Claudia also manages to drive across the entire city, 7 days a week, on food rescue missions to help provide sustenance to those experiencing food insecurity in her community. In total, she has rescued and delivered over 130,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, grains to families and organizations in need.

After he was kicked out of his family home at 15 for being gay, Kemar Jewel found his chosen family through the underground Philadelphia dance scene. There, he leaned into his passion for movement and truly understood how Black queer men can help each other heal from trauma. Now a choreographer and director, Kemar is blending art and activism to spread hope, love, and healing—all while uplifting Black LGBTQ voices.

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, it shook New York City especially hard. At a time when so many New Yorkers felt hopeless, New York native and tech entrepreneur Ben Wei found the courage to act. Now, one year later, he’s on another mission to help others; this time, to unite the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the fight against hate, racism, and systemic injustice.

When Ashley Webb moved her family from Los Angeles to New Orleans in 2017, it was a huge culture shock. Not only was the city very different, but the neighborhood they moved into was considered a food desert, meaning there is no immediate access to fresh produce. Wanting to change this, Ashley and her husband started a community garden—and it blossomed into a much bigger project than they ever imagined.