An 88-year-old Detroit man who works full-time at a convenience store has received an outpouring of support after TikToker itssozer shared his story and launched a fundraiser that has already raised more than $1 million, having previously reached its original goal of $750,000.
Samuel Weidenhofer, known online as itssozer, posted a video on December 1 introducing viewers to Ed Bambas, an Army veteran who still works eight-hour shifts five days a week.
Bambas told him he “has to work” because he lost his General Motors pension after the company’s bankruptcy in 2012, more than a decade after he retired in 1999.
General Motors said in a statement sent to Dexerto that pensioned workers in 2012 were provided options on how to receive pension payments:
“Mr. Bambas’ personal story is deeply moving, and it’s wonderful to see the outpouring of support for him. We are grateful for what he has contributed to GM and to our country.”
“While we don’t share details about individuals, in 2012 salaried GM retirees who were receiving monthly pension payments were given several options, including continuation of monthly lifetime payments or a lump sum payout, if they preferred. Additionally, starting in 2008, retirees older than 65 receive a $300 monthly lifetime payment for supplemental Medicare coverage.”
Per USA Today, Bambas’s son clarified to Weidenhofer’s team that his father accepted a lump sum payment in 2012, but that it was spent on covering bills for his wife’s medical care before she died.
Fundraiser surpasses $1 million
As of December 3, 2025, the fundraiser for Bambas has far surpassed the original donation goal of $750k, having reached $1.2 million from over 42,000 donations.
An update on the campaign’s GoFundMe page from Weidenhofer reads:
“Hey everyone, I just wanted to say the biggest thank you towards ED ever the support so far is absolutely immense.”
“I wanted to let you know that Ed will be added to receive the funds once we surprise him in four or five days . We are working tirelessly to make sure we set up a secure bank account or trust for him so the money is very safe and he can flourish in the best way possible.”
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GoFundMeFundraiser for veteran passes $750k in donations
Weidenhofer launched a GoFundMe campaign for Bambas shortly after the video went live, saying he wanted to help give the veteran comfort and stability after years of hardship.
In the fundraiser’s description, he wrote that Bambas “completely humbled” him and described meeting a man who shows “quiet dignity, strength, and perseverance” despite losing both his pension and his wife.
The fundraiser aims to help Bambas cover living expenses and medical care, with Weidenhofer saying “every dollar” will go directly to supporting him. As of the time of writing, the campaign has surpassed its $750,000 goal from over 25,000 individual donations.
In a follow-up post on the fundraiser’s GoFundMe page, Weidenhofer wrote, “I am in shock at how much has been raised. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”