GoFundMe reveals the most generous LGA in Queensland

A heartbreaking fundraiser by an ill father to buy his daughters a home before his death has been revealed as one of the state’s highest-earning fundraisers. GoFundMe reveals Qld’s most generous communities and the most successful causes.

GoFundMe has revealed one if five Aussies have now donated via the fundraising platform. Picture – file.

Queenslanders have raised more than $93 million for families in need, according to new figures from fundraising platform GoFundMe.

The online fundraising portal has revealed new data on where generous Queenslanders live and what they have donated to, with more than $93 million raised for people in need.

Causes ranged from buying a home for a local family who lost their father to motor neurone disease to funeral costs, lifesaving operations and furniture and clothes for those who had lost everything in house fires.

One-in-five Australians have donated via the fundraising platform at some stage.

A total of 5.2 million people have given more than 9.2 million separate donations across the country, collectively raising more than $820 million for national and international causes.

In Queensland, more than 146,000 fundraisers have been launched, raising more than $161 million for individuals and charities in need.

Of that, $93.8 million has been donated by Queensland residents.

Another $35 million has been contributed from interstate heroes, with the remainder coming from international donors.

The top fundraisers, by amount raised, launched in Queensland to date so far included: Free Her which raised more than $1.3 million; Fight for Johnny’s Girls which raised more than $915,000; and Tonga Tsunami Relief by Pita Taufatofua which raised more than $874,000.

The fundraiser for Johnny McCowen, a Brisbane father of two diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS, the most common form of motor neurone disease (MND), aimed to buy his family a house so he could have the peace of mind knowing they would be cared for after his death.

Johnny McCowen with his wife Sherie, and daughters Darcy, 2, and Riley, 11 months, in 2022. Picture: David Kelly

“My wife and my two baby daughters are everything to me,” Mr McCowen previously wrote on the campaign page.

“But now our world has crumbled. A diagnosis of ALS – an aggressive Motor Neurone Disease – is causing my body to shut down around me and it’s all happened in just nine months.

“My name is Johnny – I’m asking for your help to buy a home for Sherie and our two girls where they can grow into the amazing people I won’t see, but I know they will be.

“If they have a home and a secure future, I can rest in peace, and I thank you for this.”

The house the family were living in belonged to a good friend.

Mr McCowen’s friends were determined “Johnny’s girls”, as they were known to all who knew them, would be provided for financially.

John Naughton, one of those friends, said the amount raised was life changing for the McCowen family.

“It was an amazing campaign and a great public response,” he said.

“It was really successful for their family. They used the money to buy a house in Brisbane and moved into it in December last year.

“I think the campaign struck a chord with so many people because he was genuinely just such a kind guy.”

Tragically, Mr McCowen died in July this year.

“It meant a lot to Johnny knowing his girl’s future is secured and that they own their house … it’s been an amazing lifeline for the family,” Mr Naughton said.

“He was in hospital for less than two weeks towards the end but he deteriorated very quickly.

“As a special request for his passing an ambulance took him from the hospital to one of his favourite places in some woodlands where he used to go walking … a beautiful spot.

“It was very calm and serene. He was with his wife, a carer and a close friend listening to the birds sing when he passed.”

Mr Naughton said the family was incredibly grateful for the fundraiser.

“It was a testament to the kind of guy he was,” he said.

“It’s a bit of a bitter sweet outcome but yeah it’s been amazing for the family to have all of that support through the GoFundMe.”

Johnny McCowen with his wife Sherie, and daughters last year. Picture: David Kelly

The biggest Queensland donor contributed more than $73,621.

The person with the most single donations supported 167 (and counting) fundraisers.

Both asked to remain anonymous.

Australia’s biggest donors hailed from Victoria. The couple contributed $120,120, to date, across several fundraisers. They also requested to stay anonymous.

The couple said they would sit down together and look through the fundraisers to help out when they could.

“It’s one of those things we try to help people and people who have had tragedies in their lives,” they said.

“We come from immigrant parents and they were very generous people who would give you the clothes off their back and we inherited that a bit.

“We’re happy to help out when we can and while we’re in a position to do so.

“It makes us feel better and it gives us joy to give to people in need.”

The couple tragically lost their daughter to cancer a few years ago and said donating to people in need had helped them through their grief.

“It’s still very sad for us but helping others did help us through that,” they said.

“For us it’s a way of finding joy and feeling good. We are quite privileged and have the funds so why not help out those who don’t.

“It means a lot being able to help others.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner thanked the Gofundme donors. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner congratulated Brisbane residents on donating more than $31 million to people in need.

“Brisbane has always been a community that cares and these results demonstrate just how generous we are when times get tough,” Cr Schrinner said.

“There’s no denying we’re living through challenging times with a housing and cost-of-living crisis and this is having a big impact on the most vulnerable people in our community.

“Just like our residents have given generously, our Council has given an additional $1 million to three frontline homelessness charities this year and continued with our important Homeless Connect events which have provided free food, haircuts, services and supplies to more than 20,000 residents since 2006.”

GoFundMe Australia Regional Director Nicola Britton also congratulated Australians on their generosity.

“Since Australians have been able to donate on GoFundMe, we have seen a phenomenal response to requests for help. Australians are truly some of the most generous,” she said.

“A prominent and consistent theme is that in turbulent and unpredictable times Australian communities are stepping up to plug the gaps in fiscal support and back a friend or neighbour in need.

“The fundraising appeals are broad and varied. We’ve seen Australians step up to raise over $40 million for bushfire victims, support small businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic and most recently, raise over $3 million for Ukraine aid.

“What’s most heartwarming is that this trend in giving is not slowing down, despite economic uncertainty.”