Sanai Graden, a college student who gained attention for raising nearly $400,000 for a homeless man in Washington, D.C., has announced that she has refunded the money to donors.
This unexpected move comes after Graden expressed difficulty in staying in touch with Alonzo Douglas Hebron, the homeless man she initially sought to help.
The saga began when Graden encountered Hebron on the streets of downtown D.C. in late January.
Following a viral video showcasing her efforts to assist him, Graden launched a GoFundMe campaign that quickly gained traction, amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations.
Despite learning about Hebron’s troubled past, including a criminal record, Graden remained committed to aiding him.
However, communication between Graden and Hebron became increasingly challenging, with Hebron reportedly using up resources provided by Graden and losing contact with her altogether.
In a TikTok video, Graden expressed her efforts to transform Hebron’s life but acknowledged the limitations when individuals may not share the same goals for themselves.
“I really did try to help him,” Graden said in a video with more than a million views. “I tried to transform his whole life. But sometimes when you want something for somebody, they may not want that for themselves.”
In response to the situation, Graden made the decision to refund the donations to her supporters. She said she fell into depression and stopped focusing on her internship.
GoFundMe confirmed the refunds, stating that without the cooperation of the organizer or beneficiary, delivering the funds to Hebron was not feasible.
Graden’s experience reflects the complexities of offering assistance to vulnerable individuals and the challenges that may arise despite good intentions.
