The GoFundMe page for Bain's family hit $100,000 less than 24 hours after the upset over DukeGETTY IMAGES
Stephen F. Austin's upset win over Duke last week "went viral online," as did the story of SFA F Nate Bain's fundraiser for his family, which was affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas earlier this year, according to Cohen & Beaton of the WALL STREET JOURNAL. A GoFundMe page for Bain's family had "hit $100,000 less than 24 hours after the game was over," and by the next afternoon there were "donations from all 50 states." The "pool of money" continued to grow with a $5,000 donation from WNBA Atlanta Dream co-Owner Mary Brock, who "happens to be a Duke fan in the Bahamas on Thanksgiving." After the "catastrophic storm devastated the island nation, compliance officers for Stephen F. Austin's athletic department organized relief efforts to help the Bain family's recovery, allowing Lumberjacks fans to donate" through GoFundMe. The page "went live on Sept. 17 and raised about $2,000 from a few dozen people." With the "pool of donations going dry," school officials "discussed closing the GoFundMe short of the $25,000 goal." They "decided to keep it open for a few more days," and what happened after was "another unimaginable twist of fate." It is "perfectly legal under NCAA rules for strangers to send more than $100,000 overnight to an unpaid college athlete," as the governing body "does allow certain benefits for college athletes" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 11/30).
