Public figures from the community are donating to help former Rep. Michael Grimm, who was paralyzed in an accident

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – More than 5,200 people have donated to a GoFundMe campaign dedicated to former Republican Rep. Michael Grimm, who was paralyzed after a horseback riding accident.

“As we approach the festive season, we are appealing to everyone for help to ensure Mike has the resources he needs to walk again. Staten Islanders and all New Yorkers – as always – have responded tremendously. Mike is so grateful to everyone for their support. This is not a political issue, this is a human issue,” former South Shore City Councilman Vincent Ignizio told the Advance.

Ignizio, deputy director of the New York City Board of Elections, was one of the first to make this proposal. bring to Facebook this weekend to encourage “prayers and a donation” for Grimm.

He revealed that Grimm cannot walk because his horse allegedly threw him off while he was playing polo.

In September, Greg Kelly, a former Fox 5 morning host and Newsmax colleague of Grimm’s, said: said the former congressman suffered a neck injury that required surgery, and that Grimm had been admitted to an unknown hospital in Westchester.

Grimm has long been an avid equestrian and regularly posts on social media about his time spent at the stables and playing polo.

Of the thousands of donations received, there are several contributions with large amounts. Two accounts contributed $10,000 each and many donations of $5,000 were listed GoFundMe.

At the time of writing, $493,015 has been raised – 20% of the $2.5 million goal.

It appears that comments on the GoFundMe page have been disabled after hate comments started mixing with well wishes.

According to GoFundMe and Ignizio, some high-profile donors include:

• Lois and Richard Nicotra – owners of the Nicotra Group, which includes the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites in Bloomfield.
• SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation
• Congressional Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R – Staten Island/South Brooklyn)
• Congress’ Reo Michael Lawler (R – Hudson Valley)
• State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D – North Shore/South Brooklyn)
• Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R – East Shore/South Brooklyn)
• Former New York City Councilman Domenic Recchia – Recchia faced Grimm as a Democratic challenger during his term in office, but was ultimately not elected.
• Former Long Island Congressman Peter King (R)
• Former City Council President Corey Johnson (D)

Grimm represented Staten Island in the House of Representatives from 2010 until January 2015, when he resigned following a 2014 federal indictment related to fraudulent practices at an Upper East Side health food restaurant partly owned by Grimm.

Ultimately, the former congressman pleaded guilty to tax evasion and served seven months in prison before being released in 2016.

Grimm tried a comeback in Congress in 2018, but lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who ultimately lost to former Democratic Rep. Max Rose that year.