BRIGHTON, Mich. – Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old veteran and grocery store cashier from Brighton, is preparing to ring up his final can of corn after receiving an extraordinary gift.
On Friday, Dec. 5, Bambas was presented with a check for $1.7 million, the result of a fundraising campaign started by 22-year-old Australian social media influencer Sam Weidenhofer.
Weidenhofer, who has a combined social media following of over 10 million, met Bambas about two weeks ago at a Meijer store in Brighton.
He recorded a TikTok video featuring Bambas, a retired General Motors employee, explaining why he continued to work at nearly 90 years old.
Bambas shared that after the passing of his wife Joan in 2018, he needed to keep working to make ends meet.
“I don’t have enough income,” Bambas said in the video.
Moved by Bambas’ story, Weidenhofer launched a GoFundMe campaign to help him, calling attention to the struggles many seniors and veterans face.
“His story is a stark reminder that too many of our seniors, especially veterans, face incredible challenges just to survive,” Weidenhofer said.
The campaign quickly gained traction, attracting donations from more than 15,000 people, ranging from $10 to $10,000.
Bambas joked about the overwhelming support, saying, “It means a terrible burden. I have to find everybody and say, ‘thank you.’”
Bambas began working at Meijer at age 82, finding comfort in the connections he made with customers.
“I talk to everybody that came through my cashier line because it helped me not become despondent on her loss. ... I gave them a piece of my life story,” Bambas said.
With the funds raised, Bambas plans to pay off $225,000 in debt.
He also hopes to travel to visit his brother and return to playing golf.
In response to claims about Bambas’ pension, General Motors clarified misinformation suggesting the company had stopped his 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.”
General Motors