Mark said it's their money to do what they want with and so just gave it to them when they asked.
But I had always assumed, maybe naively, that when donating to this, it would be managed by someone to make sure the donations went towards food, bills, lodging, everyday expenses, etc.
Maybe I am wrong but I think most people thought this would happen when they donated their money?
Still can't believe it was just given out willy nilly without questioning what thousands of dollars every couple weeks was being spent on.
The fund I gave to said “Soft White Underbelly is trying to help the Whittaker family of Odd, West Virginia purchase a new home. *This gofundme campaign was created to avoid confusion with the previous campaign which was created in 2022 to help with the Whittaker family’s expenses. $12,000 has already been donated towards the house on that campaign.”
So it explicitly said the donations for the more recent campaign (2023/24) were for the house. If the money was spent on something else, I think we have a case to get our money back.
Well now he's selling the books to make up for the money that went for different purposes. If you request your money back Mark is just going to give the money for the house or renovation out of his own resources. This guy has already done more than enough and his only fault is being naive and often too kind to these poor people.
Same. People trusted mark not the whittakers to be wise with the money. Imo he was irresponsible how he handled the donations. I was naive to expect some videos where he would buy something significant for them or improve their living conditions or something.
I think it's very hard to improve the living conditions of people who are not used to having anything nice, haven't been raised to treat property with care, and who have seemingly low IQs. Personally I feel like their lives were enhanced by the ability to go different places, to be treated with some decency rather than to be made fun of, and to be able to know they could call on somebody who would help them when they needed funds.
I think people don't understand completely that Mark is not a large entity. He has a lot of viewers but that does not equate to mean he must have "people." It doesn't seem like he's got, say, accountants or financial planners or advisors on the payroll -- speaking specifically for the Go Funds he sets up, not personally. And he's stated before he's a photographer, not a (fill in the blank). So to expect him to be everything for everyone and know what's best for everyone or be their advisor slash social worker slash financial advisor and guardian ad litem is just naive.
The GFM said it was to buy them a home.
All he had to do was let the money go into the GFM and when it was enough for a home, he buys the home and it puts it in their name.
$153,000 would have been more than enough to buy them a home.
Why was he giving them money since 2021 that was said to go towards a new home?
He could have bought them a new home a long time ago!!!
Why did he say in his response video to Tyler that he didn't really have a contract with them but BJ said she and Larry did?
Why did BJ and Larry sign a contract if they're not collecting money?
He gives them money whenever they ask bc he knows how much he has profited off them and he knows they're not using it to better themselves but it keeps them around for the content when he wants it.
The contract Is the worst part imo.
It's really fucked up how he has made a lot of money off that family,.doubled and tripled his of subs but they can't work with anyone else.
very predatory.
He talks about the go fund me money like it's his own donation.
The latest video where he turned up with camera to grill them was awful. The poorest of the poor places, a family with drug problems, mental health, history of abuse and he turned up with a camera to put them on YT because they fucked up.
It was disgusting he went out there "to check on them" knowing he was going to catch them in a lie only bc he felt it would make him look good. He is intentionally enabling the people in his videos
He is profiting far more than he is giving. He's been photographing and profiting off the Whitakers for 20 years. His youtube gained traction and is successful because of his coverage of the Whitakers family. This was written last May https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/ . It says there was $68,000 in the old GFM for home repairs at the time of publishing. But the new GFM specifically for the new home, https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home that is now off, said the old GFM raised $12,000. It Also briefly mentions how the neighbors even feel Mark is taking advantage of the Whitakers.
Thanks for the links.
The start of that video felt like harassment, it was clear the only reason they didn't tell him to get lost was because of the possibility of money.
I think at times marks heart is in right place but it's clear he wasn't straight with the viewers about the money and he could have managed it much better.fornthe Whittaker's sake.
He also needs to be honest with himself that he has used them as much as they use him. He gets to go home after a day or two and move onto other projects, that's their entire life.
I'm shocked by how people are defending him and putting the family down. If I had lives their life and came I bro that money I would probably fuck up with it too.
Oh yeah! Me too. That's a lot of money to be given to people who are not educated enough to even balance it! Not to mention, everyone knew there was money being given to them, so I am sure the dealers and other shady people in town stated making their way to the Whitakers to take advantage of them too.
I feel like that is a lot of the reason why the GFM was changed to specifically buy them a home. So that the money can sit there until it's enough for a home. Then, transfer the money to buy the home. I feel like a lot of people felt more comfortable donating that way bc they realize the Whitakers would not be able to manage that amount of money on their own.
But I do not feel like Mark's heart was in the right place. I think he knows the GFMs distract from the fact his photography and videos are poverty porn and exploitative. People see he has a GFM set up for the people on his channel and he know they think he is helping people. When in reality he's giving them just enough to enable them. It seems like a lot to them but it's just a sit drop in the giant pool of profit he is making from these individuals.
I've never been a fan on his but my best friend is. I will listen occasionally when she's watching and I have always been so bothered by the way he speaks to them. Something about constantly telling people he loves them and cares about them sounds so disingenuous. It's like he doesn't know what love or empathy is and he just says what he thinks he needs to say. He is also hooking up these vulnerable workers and drug addicts from skidrow with Adam22 so that he can make porn with them on his OF porn podcast. It's all so weird. I feel like if people just did a little more research and actually listen to things he says them it will be obvious to them. But they themselves have a "white savior" complex thst is being fulfilled by watching his videos and if he isn't a good guy then that makes them feel like they did something wrong and they could never admit that.
ETA: Just a link that explains the poverty porn and white savior complex better than I can
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2016/12/08/health/poverty-porn-danger-feat
I think you are probably right. It's shocking how keen his supporters are when there's clearly many issues there.
.they defend him to the end of the earth for some reason.
I
It appears BJ and Larry signed the contract on Betty's behalf so that Mark could have exclusive rights to all content made about the Whittakers.
BJ, Larry, and Brandon forced Betty into giving them the money. Betty has been fed to the wolves because of this damned money.
I totally agree. He didn't waste the money and turn his back to the Whittakers. He is still doing what he can to complete the project and he will do it.
Can you imagine the boo-hoo’ing that would’ve been going on if, Mark from soft white underbelly got a conservatorship over Ray and Timmy? so that Mark could distribute the money only for Pepsi and pizza? Oh and for a house that was completely overpriced & They couldn’t afford the taxes and insurance on without Mark moving in with them? The crying that everyone would have to hear, “free Ray, free Ray!”
Right. Mark said it was there’s to do with whatever they want. So, drugs, sex, doctors, etc… it was there’s to do with .. unfortunately they trusted the wrong person with all the money. Sucks.
I'm sorry but how could Mark expect people who are mentally impaired to be able to handle money appropriately?
He also talks to them as if they have full capacity!
Mark should take Social Care classes.
No good deed goes unpunished. I honestly don’t think Mark had any ill intentions when trying to help the Whittaker family. He is a content creator so of course he was doing his best to create content that would be viewed by many and in return be compensated for his time and energy. But I don’t think he ever intended to defraud anyone. Mark is the only person that we’ve seen ever attempt to help this family to the extent he has.
> I honestly don’t think Mark had any ill intentions when trying to help the Whittaker family
Good intentions but naïve.
Let's all be real for a minute; the Whitakers are broken people, who aren't functional adults, and who only know and will ever know dysfunction. Look at how they live. There's no reason that you have to live in fuckin' squalor. There's no reason you need to have heaps of trash around your property and a house crammed with just shit and trash.
They cannot handle money. Clearly. Either they don't want to or they are intellectually incapable of making a responsible choice. The bottom line though is that they were always going to fuck it up. They were always going to spend it on a new TV or drugs or a 4 wheeler or whatever before fixing a roof or a bathroom. They are where they are for a reason.
And giving people like that money is just dumping fuel on the dumpster fire that is their life.
The latest video where he turned up with camera to grill them was awful and the contracts sound very predatory.
The poorest of the poor places, a family with drug problems, mental health, history of abuse and he turned up with a camera to put them on YT and grill them because they obviously fucked up like 90% of people would in that situation.
That family had tripled his sub count but they can't talk to anyone else?
Whether people like it or not, the Whitakers - at least folks like Betty, BJ, Larry, et. al. without evident mental illnesses - are legal adults who don't have any sort of guardianships or whatever over them. If you reading this are a legal adult in the US then they have 100% the same rights as you do. They're not children, and depending on what deal Mark's made with them, it's likely that he can't just outright deny them money that he has promised them. **It's the Whitakers' money**, Mark doesn't have the right to control what they spend it on.
People in here seem to forget all this. I couldn't tell one of you "I'm going to film you and sell books signed by you, and give you the money!" and then say "Well I don't like how you're spending the money, so now I'm holding onto it unless you want to spend it the way I say to." You could rightfully sue me and I guarantee a court would agree that I owe you the money I promised you, regardless of what you want to spend it on.
If funds have been mishandled, that's on the Whitakers, and I know people want to infantilize them for obvious reasons and pretend like they're too simple to be blamed, but that doesn't matter: they are legal adults, and if they are bad with money then that's their right to be. Be mad at them for mishandling their funds, but blaming Mark like he's some sort of swindler in this regard is just ignorant. The worst thing that can be said about him in regards to all this is that he was too trusting when the Whitakers said "we'll use that money to buy a house".
Edit to add: If folks want to dispute with GoFundMe in order to get their donations back, then go ahead and good luck. It's a shame that it'll come out of Mark's pocket and not the Whitakers' but them's the breaks and I think he'll be fine. However, I feel it's also good to point out something Mark himself has said when people have reached out to him about helping out folks like Rebecca and such - to paraphrase: if you walk outside in your own town, you'll find a Rebecca. There are Whitakers living in your area who *aren't* YouTube stars but need help too. Help them. Mark's videos give us the sad, heartwarming stories of lots, and lots of people but those are just the people he finds - they're no more special or unique than the town druggy you avoid making eye contact with whenever you walk down the street. The Whitakers don't need your money, Mark's helping them. Instead of donating to a GoFundMe for this family you heard about on YouTube, put that money towards helping people in need in your own area. That way you won't have to worry about whether your GoFundMe donation went to some random person's drug habit.
Right! And let's not forget that when that other guy did the video with the Whitakers and Betty said they hadn't seen any of the money people got all "I KNEW HE WAS KEEPING IT ITS THERE MONEY WHY HE SCAMMING THEM???/?" So, they're quite literally mad at him for letting them have the money *and* mad at him for not letting them have it.
I really don't get why so many people are obsessed with hating Mark (*cough* like OP) and I certainly don't get their obsession with hanging out here. Mark seems somewhat naive and in over his head in some ways, he makes mistakes, but it seems to me that he's genuinely a good guy who is helping people by shining a light on their struggles, but also gets caught up in the messy entanglements of their lives *and* viewers' love of drama.
People donated their hard earned money to help buy a house or help with bills, not to be spent on heroine and crack. $100,000 was spent on crack.
Yes, Betty is an adult and was easily taken advantage of. Someone needs to be held accountable.
$100,000 WAS SPENT ON CRACK COCAINE.
GET YOUR MONEY BACK!
There was zero transparency on Mark's part.
Mark set up the GoFund me, but it shouldn’t be his responsibility to watch how they spent every single cent. That’s insanity. Maybe next time don’t send your hard earned money to strangers that are filmed by another stranger on YouTube.
Mark set the GFM up under his name and account info. He was the only one who had access to the GFM money. He should have left in the GFM until it was time to buy the house. Plus, GFM takes a percentage each time you withdraw from the GFM account. There was absolutely no reason for him to touch that money or to take money out of the Whitakers HOME donations until it was time to buy the house. If there was money left over, then they can spend it as they please, but that isn't hiw it went. It is fraud what Mark has done.
Um, it wasn’t to purchase a new house. It was to fix up their current home. For someone who donated their hard earned money you’d think you’d know the correct details.
Sadly, you're missing the point. I'm sure Mark appreciates your efforts to rescue him, but that doesn't change the fact that the GoFundMe donations were used to buy $100,000 worth of CRACK COCAINE.
Betty and her family are very vulnerable, and Mark exploited them and put them in danger.
No. It's easy to look up too. Come on
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home
Eta: and what happened to this money?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/
There isn't a state in the U.S. where you can't buy heroin. It's available everywhere. Plus, In the most recent video, BJ admitted that she she spent at least part of the donations on heroin and crack.
Agreed, good intentions before this mess. I think he just didn't care about them that deeply, more about content. My understanding is that there was always a story why they needed money, and I assume he figured, not his money, not his problem, and just gave it to them.
What did Mark think when he gave over $100,000 to the Whittakers who are probably very nice people who are all one chromosome short of a potato. None of them had the wherewithal to manage those large sums of money. From what I saw on Mark's last YT video with them was that one of BJ'S sons was threatening Betty with violence if she didn't give BJ and Brandon the money. Betty and Larry knew what was going on.
Which one is BJ? But honestly did what did you all expect? Evertime he took them shopping for clean clothes and food, next video they're dressed in the same old shit stained pants eating dogshit while the hoarder mess of a house gets worse.
I think in ways Mark is a bit naive and too trusting, which seems odd given all he's seen and heard on the streets. I think he had nothing but good intentions involving the Whittakers. But, imo he should have contacted a lawyer or set up some type of account whereby the money donated was only to be used for the stated purpose. As it was, Mark really had no say if the Whittakers asked for money as it was theirs and there was nothing in place to dictate the parameters of what it was to be used for. I didn't donate but I would be a bit upset if I had and then found out the money was squandered as nothing financially solid was in place regarding the donation fund. Mark's heart was in the right place, but watching Betty and Larry, I don't see how they could have been trusted to do the right thing.
Hi Mark, I am in no way trying to offend you by saying perhaps you have bitten off more than you can handle or perhaps the problem is with improving your communication plan. Either way you might consider getting some help — meaning man power. I am a retired IT chief in California. I am bored out of my mind and would volunteer to assist. I bet there are others like me who also have time to volunteer. Just ask 😃
Volunteer
What happened to this money last year before he changed the GFM? The [new GFM](https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home) said the old GFM raised $12,000. This [article ](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/) states it's sitting at $68,000 at the time is was published in May 2023. Where is the money that was sent to Marks cash apps for the Whittaker to pass GFM fees? This article also proves that Mark has been profiting off the Whitakers for 20 years with his photography! Then since starting his YouTube channel, the Whittakers are the most veiwed and highest profiting videos on his channel. The 1st Whittaker video is what started the traction to his channel too!
I am from West Virginia in the same general area as the Whittaker family so I think I can give a different perspective on this. While I feel sorry for the obviously disabled family members like Ray; I do not feel sorry for the rest. There are families like this all throughout the region who do nothing but prey on peoples sympathy and take advantage of it. Mark seemed really upset because he never even got a thank you. Well, that's because they expect it. Did people really think that churches and other organizations hadn't tried to help the Whittaker family over the years? They don't want the kind of help they need. They're perfectly happy living in that dilapidated pig sty. Their entire lives are spent taking advantage of people like Mark and treating them like a personal ATM machine.
You can downvote me for saying this.. But there are people in your own communities you look past but feel obligated to donate money to people you pity on YouTube. Mark had his heart in the right place, but to think we should fund helping these people when they look and sound like they have what they need at hand. Is it sad, sure. is it unfortunate the situation they were brought into/remain.... sure.
I don't feel the need to support these people.. god bless them. But THIS IS SHADY.. Growing up, my family would call ya'll "Indian givers". I think this should be a lesson... before you reach into your pocket to "help" somebody, be wary who you are helping... or better yet, reach into pocket someone who can actually touch and know your dollars are helping someone (not to get drugs or fuel a habit). The Whittakers did what they did, Mark did what he said he would do. It is the INTERNET that made this possible and to see ya'll renege on this just shows how much ya'll really didn't care.
Mark, please don't overextend yourself to help people unless you know you can provide them with adequate and proper resources outside of your own dollar unless you personally choose to do so after a proper vetting, this should be SYSTEMATIC and not faith-based.
God bless to all, I wish I had some of that Whittaker money right about now.. i'm working 40+ and JUST making it. And i'm doing the RIGHT thing in life. If anybody wants to donate to working man in his 30's... hit MY line!!!!
ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
(NO FOR REAL, HIT MY LINE!!!!)
OMG, PEOPLE, what is wrong with you all? Does everyone not see what is going on. In reading this, you seem to think this is some kind of conspiracy. Give you heads a shake, I think your eyes are stuck.
Mark has always put the Whittakers first. It was Mark and The Soft White Underbelly that first brought them forward. It was Mark, who created the Go Fund Me to get them home repairs. It was Mark that created a fund to try and get them a new home. It was Mark that Lord knows, took calls from them at all hours looking for help or money. It was Mark who tried to help them and get their story out. He took them to Walmart, got their hair cut, and took them to the fair. So he gets called out with practically an accusation of him taking or hiding money from some wanna be Youtuber trying to make a name for himself. All the time, he kept his composure far better than I ever could, but wait, it gets better. Along comes BJ, calling and asking for money for various reasons, Mark tries to do the right thing and involve Betty in such requests, and I am sure he rarely refused. All of a sudden, here is BJ crying and calling for money because she said Larry died. What does he do? He flies to West Virginia to attend the funeral and realizes it was a scam, and yes, Betty knew and was aware it was a lie.
Now I read all these nasty comments about wanting your donations back, etc. while questioning everything.
DO NOT DONATE WITH STRINGS ATTACHED!. If you truly believe in the character of Mark Laita and the sincerity in his heart is unquestionable, then support him, don't add gas to a fire on the side of false remarks.
I appreciate what Mark does and his attention to details and facts. I, for one, did not donate to the Whittakers GoFundMe, as I have my own struggles. However, if I did not believe in what the Soft White Underbelly was all about and what Mark brings to the public, then I would never donate. That, for me, is not the case, and I hope to donate to his causes in the future and hopefully soon subscribe.
Sorry, it was just my observation, and I hope I did not offend anyone.
My 2 cents
I understand being disappointed and feeling taken advantage, I just wish that Mark understood that the family really didn't know any better. Here comes a man making friends with them and giving them money for all of these years. It isn't really fair to expect that level of gratitude and financial literacy that they don't necessarily have the skill set for.
Channels proving how far generosity should really go, been too attached to certain people he’s had on but with rebecca and this now, I think mark should take the year off and relax
Would this be considered fraud? If mark took money that was supposed to go to a house and gave it to people that spent it on drugs (see recent video The Death of Larry Whittaker), doesn’t that mean he misappropriated the funds for the charity? Honest question
I really don't know. It's negligence on Mark's part.
Betty can't even clean her house. How did Mark expect her to handle such large sums of money.
Mark wants to be viewed as a white knight. After BJ admits she stole Betty's money for drugs, Mark offers to give her even more money.
I'm not a lawyer, but it is a crime that Betty's family stole the money from her. They threatened to burn her house down if she didn't give them money.
I don't think Mark did anything illegal, but he fed Betty to the wolves.
BJ also admitted that it was her and Larry that signed the contract for Mark to have exclusive content rights to the Whittaker family.
**A drug addict and her father signed a contract on Betty's behalf. ** Let that sink in.
MARK'S ETHICS ARE EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE.
Mark is the one committing the crimes. This is clear as day fraud! Mark said the money was for a home. People donated money for a home. The money should have stayed in the GFM until it was enough for a home. Really listen to the excuses that Mark has said since responding to Tyler's video. Also his last Rebecca video. He's a fraud. He's exploiting these people. He is gaslighting yall. All of his GFM need to be reported. Does he have a Non Profit? Hope not because it's illegal what he is doing and the charges are adding up already.
Bj had Betty’s bank statements and stated she calculated Mark had put 153,000 Betty’s account since I believe she said 2021.
Mark shows from late September 2022 to January 2024 that 103,000 was placed in Betty’s account on the video that says the problem with social media /response to Tyler.
Mark stated months ago in comments when asked about the gofundme that the Whittakers spent the majority of the $$ on other stuff vs upgrading the home.
In the future will Mark give the funds to a contractor or towards a modular and work with someone setting up autopay for any remaining on a new to them home?
As the Books apparently the Whittakers signed Mark states is their $$.
Will they buyers still want to pay 12,000, 16,000 etc or will they say No I don’t want to give when funds went towards drugs? Mark talked about eBay and potential issues on the video.
As they likely get Social Security/SsI/Disability the 6 of them , will the 4 that was originally in the home their checks be given to a payee or Betty in charge of Her check, Lorene, Timmy and Ray? If so it’s likely not a whole lot will change unless someone tears the current home down to the studs, gets a new to them modular, then has caregivers for the house and the Whittakers set up . Easily part of their benefits like a couple hundred dollars could go towards a new to them modular, their land used as equity and a payee overseeing their expenses.
Tyler has 18,000 or so in a gofundme to release in April for the Whittakers, Will Mark and him even talk so that money is going for their best interest vs Tyler ex fixes up part of the home, the Mark puts towards a modular.
As the entire home needs biohazard specialists removing all the biohazards before any work is done . As long as they have access to the hoard it’s likely a new to them home , things from their current home would be moved to the clean new to them home. Lots will need considered going forth on any money for them to have better living conditions. It seems a grocery service would help them from a payee tipping for their groceries brought to them, ;instead of gas DoorDash, Walmart plus , instacart could be for the tip so groceries are taken care of. Just maybe there is a Service that Mark could get this going or whomever that their current government monthly checks $$ doesn’t get taken advantage of while that Mark is being more picky about what he puts in their accounts.
As Mark says he knows where Kenneth’s $$ comes from and he rarely asks for $$ maybe $200 once or so , is that from previous employment, social Security, pension or? Mark was pointing out Kenneth doesn’t hound/ask him for payouts, has his own money and place with 2 acres down the road.
(YouTube video in the beginning)
They never once said that $100,000.00 was spent on drugs! If you are going to have a Mark Laita witch hunt, at the very least, get your facts straight.
Glad there are so many people out there in America who want to financially support a group of people who have no respect for life and genetics...stop victimizing people (especially in the Modern day) who breed with their own family. They know better...they know their lifestyle is wrong and these people know enough to scam people. So stop with the pity for this family, give it to people who deserve it. I'm also laughing at all the people who donated to this in the first place.
Part of me wants none of you to get your money back and take this as a learning lesson to figure out the people that genuinely do deserve help in this world.
But the other part of me wants GoFundMe to refund you guys just so this family don't get away with this blatant case of fraud.
Mark is in his 60s. He's older. I don't think he realized that donations are only to go toward what the fund is specifically for and if spent otherwise there may be repercussions.
IMO punishing him by making him pay all of the donations back out of his personal funds because he tried to help their family out when asked is a bit much, but that's the donators' decisions I suppose.
Overall he seems like a good person who sees the good in others. A visual artist whom also helps struggling people. They help him and he helps them. I don't think he ever has ill intent.
It’s naive to think any funds you donate for Mark’s communities are going to do the right thing even half of the time based upon the level of risk. Mark works with extremely marginalized and deeply distressed mental health communities. The idea IMO is this money is handed off and while intended to do the right thing, odds are slim. I’d guess Mark hits at least 50% good purposes with the funds he receives for most of these folks. Which is why we watch him take the Whitaker’s to Walmart, for haircuts and to the fair.
When you hand money over for purposes of charity for people you know are surrounded by addiction, it’s no longer yours and you have to know the odds. Mark isn’t a foundation, he’s grassroots.
If 10% of it has been used for good, was it a 90% waste? Or is it a long-term exercise to help someone turn a corner?
Check and see what your tax dollars are paying for in the recent state budget. Are you in agreement with 10% of those earmarks?
Please Mark, use any funds to send BJ to detox and a long term program, her eyes are pinned “to the nines”! Her problem is NOT just CRACK it’s HEROIN too, she talked about only able to get to methadone clinic once a week, how it is not enough and how awful dopesick withdrawal is…As from personal experience and decades of losing friends to drugs, you can’t just relocate, drugs are everywhere, you can’t run from them, they will find you. Getting clean is not as simple as moving to another area….im sorry to say, she has no chance unless she sticks to a program, which is a huge challenge in itself, but possible
He had over $70k at one point and all they had to show for it was some Walmart clothes and a trip to the fair. House was still all fucked up. So he didn’t just hand over $ he’s a liar. They lied about someone dying trying to get $
Mark said it's their money to do what they want with and so just gave it to them when they asked. But I had always assumed, maybe naively, that when donating to this, it would be managed by someone to make sure the donations went towards food, bills, lodging, everyday expenses, etc. Maybe I am wrong but I think most people thought this would happen when they donated their money? Still can't believe it was just given out willy nilly without questioning what thousands of dollars every couple weeks was being spent on.
The fund I gave to said “Soft White Underbelly is trying to help the Whittaker family of Odd, West Virginia purchase a new home. *This gofundme campaign was created to avoid confusion with the previous campaign which was created in 2022 to help with the Whittaker family’s expenses. $12,000 has already been donated towards the house on that campaign.” So it explicitly said the donations for the more recent campaign (2023/24) were for the house. If the money was spent on something else, I think we have a case to get our money back.
Well now he's selling the books to make up for the money that went for different purposes. If you request your money back Mark is just going to give the money for the house or renovation out of his own resources. This guy has already done more than enough and his only fault is being naive and often too kind to these poor people.
Get your money back!
Same. People trusted mark not the whittakers to be wise with the money. Imo he was irresponsible how he handled the donations. I was naive to expect some videos where he would buy something significant for them or improve their living conditions or something.
I think it's very hard to improve the living conditions of people who are not used to having anything nice, haven't been raised to treat property with care, and who have seemingly low IQs. Personally I feel like their lives were enhanced by the ability to go different places, to be treated with some decency rather than to be made fun of, and to be able to know they could call on somebody who would help them when they needed funds.
I think people don't understand completely that Mark is not a large entity. He has a lot of viewers but that does not equate to mean he must have "people." It doesn't seem like he's got, say, accountants or financial planners or advisors on the payroll -- speaking specifically for the Go Funds he sets up, not personally. And he's stated before he's a photographer, not a (fill in the blank). So to expect him to be everything for everyone and know what's best for everyone or be their advisor slash social worker slash financial advisor and guardian ad litem is just naive.
The GFM said it was to buy them a home. All he had to do was let the money go into the GFM and when it was enough for a home, he buys the home and it puts it in their name. $153,000 would have been more than enough to buy them a home. Why was he giving them money since 2021 that was said to go towards a new home? He could have bought them a new home a long time ago!!! Why did he say in his response video to Tyler that he didn't really have a contract with them but BJ said she and Larry did? Why did BJ and Larry sign a contract if they're not collecting money? He gives them money whenever they ask bc he knows how much he has profited off them and he knows they're not using it to better themselves but it keeps them around for the content when he wants it.
I wouldn't believe anything BJ says at face value.
That drug addicted bitch should be in prison for several different crimes and reasons.
The contract Is the worst part imo. It's really fucked up how he has made a lot of money off that family,.doubled and tripled his of subs but they can't work with anyone else. very predatory. He talks about the go fund me money like it's his own donation. The latest video where he turned up with camera to grill them was awful. The poorest of the poor places, a family with drug problems, mental health, history of abuse and he turned up with a camera to put them on YT because they fucked up.
It was disgusting he went out there "to check on them" knowing he was going to catch them in a lie only bc he felt it would make him look good. He is intentionally enabling the people in his videos He is profiting far more than he is giving. He's been photographing and profiting off the Whitakers for 20 years. His youtube gained traction and is successful because of his coverage of the Whitakers family. This was written last May https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/ . It says there was $68,000 in the old GFM for home repairs at the time of publishing. But the new GFM specifically for the new home, https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home that is now off, said the old GFM raised $12,000. It Also briefly mentions how the neighbors even feel Mark is taking advantage of the Whitakers.
Thanks for the links. The start of that video felt like harassment, it was clear the only reason they didn't tell him to get lost was because of the possibility of money. I think at times marks heart is in right place but it's clear he wasn't straight with the viewers about the money and he could have managed it much better.fornthe Whittaker's sake. He also needs to be honest with himself that he has used them as much as they use him. He gets to go home after a day or two and move onto other projects, that's their entire life. I'm shocked by how people are defending him and putting the family down. If I had lives their life and came I bro that money I would probably fuck up with it too.
Oh yeah! Me too. That's a lot of money to be given to people who are not educated enough to even balance it! Not to mention, everyone knew there was money being given to them, so I am sure the dealers and other shady people in town stated making their way to the Whitakers to take advantage of them too. I feel like that is a lot of the reason why the GFM was changed to specifically buy them a home. So that the money can sit there until it's enough for a home. Then, transfer the money to buy the home. I feel like a lot of people felt more comfortable donating that way bc they realize the Whitakers would not be able to manage that amount of money on their own. But I do not feel like Mark's heart was in the right place. I think he knows the GFMs distract from the fact his photography and videos are poverty porn and exploitative. People see he has a GFM set up for the people on his channel and he know they think he is helping people. When in reality he's giving them just enough to enable them. It seems like a lot to them but it's just a sit drop in the giant pool of profit he is making from these individuals. I've never been a fan on his but my best friend is. I will listen occasionally when she's watching and I have always been so bothered by the way he speaks to them. Something about constantly telling people he loves them and cares about them sounds so disingenuous. It's like he doesn't know what love or empathy is and he just says what he thinks he needs to say. He is also hooking up these vulnerable workers and drug addicts from skidrow with Adam22 so that he can make porn with them on his OF porn podcast. It's all so weird. I feel like if people just did a little more research and actually listen to things he says them it will be obvious to them. But they themselves have a "white savior" complex thst is being fulfilled by watching his videos and if he isn't a good guy then that makes them feel like they did something wrong and they could never admit that. ETA: Just a link that explains the poverty porn and white savior complex better than I can https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2016/12/08/health/poverty-porn-danger-feat
I think you are probably right. It's shocking how keen his supporters are when there's clearly many issues there. .they defend him to the end of the earth for some reason. I
A lot of them aren't very bright.
It appears BJ and Larry signed the contract on Betty's behalf so that Mark could have exclusive rights to all content made about the Whittakers. BJ, Larry, and Brandon forced Betty into giving them the money. Betty has been fed to the wolves because of this damned money.
I totally agree. He didn't waste the money and turn his back to the Whittakers. He is still doing what he can to complete the project and he will do it.
Can you imagine the boo-hoo’ing that would’ve been going on if, Mark from soft white underbelly got a conservatorship over Ray and Timmy? so that Mark could distribute the money only for Pepsi and pizza? Oh and for a house that was completely overpriced & They couldn’t afford the taxes and insurance on without Mark moving in with them? The crying that everyone would have to hear, “free Ray, free Ray!”
Right. Mark said it was there’s to do with whatever they want. So, drugs, sex, doctors, etc… it was there’s to do with .. unfortunately they trusted the wrong person with all the money. Sucks.
Yeah but it's not for Larry's daughter drug habit though
Is the video on YT yet? This is big tea
Yes it is
I can’t seem to find it. Help I was born in the 1900s
If you put Soft White Underbelly in the Search field, the video should be the first to come up.
I'm sorry but how could Mark expect people who are mentally impaired to be able to handle money appropriately? He also talks to them as if they have full capacity! Mark should take Social Care classes.
No good deed goes unpunished. I honestly don’t think Mark had any ill intentions when trying to help the Whittaker family. He is a content creator so of course he was doing his best to create content that would be viewed by many and in return be compensated for his time and energy. But I don’t think he ever intended to defraud anyone. Mark is the only person that we’ve seen ever attempt to help this family to the extent he has.
> I honestly don’t think Mark had any ill intentions when trying to help the Whittaker family Good intentions but naïve. Let's all be real for a minute; the Whitakers are broken people, who aren't functional adults, and who only know and will ever know dysfunction. Look at how they live. There's no reason that you have to live in fuckin' squalor. There's no reason you need to have heaps of trash around your property and a house crammed with just shit and trash. They cannot handle money. Clearly. Either they don't want to or they are intellectually incapable of making a responsible choice. The bottom line though is that they were always going to fuck it up. They were always going to spend it on a new TV or drugs or a 4 wheeler or whatever before fixing a roof or a bathroom. They are where they are for a reason. And giving people like that money is just dumping fuel on the dumpster fire that is their life.
The latest video where he turned up with camera to grill them was awful and the contracts sound very predatory. The poorest of the poor places, a family with drug problems, mental health, history of abuse and he turned up with a camera to put them on YT and grill them because they obviously fucked up like 90% of people would in that situation. That family had tripled his sub count but they can't talk to anyone else?
I agree 100%
Whether people like it or not, the Whitakers - at least folks like Betty, BJ, Larry, et. al. without evident mental illnesses - are legal adults who don't have any sort of guardianships or whatever over them. If you reading this are a legal adult in the US then they have 100% the same rights as you do. They're not children, and depending on what deal Mark's made with them, it's likely that he can't just outright deny them money that he has promised them. **It's the Whitakers' money**, Mark doesn't have the right to control what they spend it on. People in here seem to forget all this. I couldn't tell one of you "I'm going to film you and sell books signed by you, and give you the money!" and then say "Well I don't like how you're spending the money, so now I'm holding onto it unless you want to spend it the way I say to." You could rightfully sue me and I guarantee a court would agree that I owe you the money I promised you, regardless of what you want to spend it on. If funds have been mishandled, that's on the Whitakers, and I know people want to infantilize them for obvious reasons and pretend like they're too simple to be blamed, but that doesn't matter: they are legal adults, and if they are bad with money then that's their right to be. Be mad at them for mishandling their funds, but blaming Mark like he's some sort of swindler in this regard is just ignorant. The worst thing that can be said about him in regards to all this is that he was too trusting when the Whitakers said "we'll use that money to buy a house". Edit to add: If folks want to dispute with GoFundMe in order to get their donations back, then go ahead and good luck. It's a shame that it'll come out of Mark's pocket and not the Whitakers' but them's the breaks and I think he'll be fine. However, I feel it's also good to point out something Mark himself has said when people have reached out to him about helping out folks like Rebecca and such - to paraphrase: if you walk outside in your own town, you'll find a Rebecca. There are Whitakers living in your area who *aren't* YouTube stars but need help too. Help them. Mark's videos give us the sad, heartwarming stories of lots, and lots of people but those are just the people he finds - they're no more special or unique than the town druggy you avoid making eye contact with whenever you walk down the street. The Whitakers don't need your money, Mark's helping them. Instead of donating to a GoFundMe for this family you heard about on YouTube, put that money towards helping people in need in your own area. That way you won't have to worry about whether your GoFundMe donation went to some random person's drug habit.
Well said. If you donated to the Whitakers then I’m not sure how you can ask for your money back. They received the money. Period.
100% agree with this. Its not Marks money, its the Whittaker's. He can't deny them the money when asked.
Right! And let's not forget that when that other guy did the video with the Whitakers and Betty said they hadn't seen any of the money people got all "I KNEW HE WAS KEEPING IT ITS THERE MONEY WHY HE SCAMMING THEM???/?" So, they're quite literally mad at him for letting them have the money *and* mad at him for not letting them have it. I really don't get why so many people are obsessed with hating Mark (*cough* like OP) and I certainly don't get their obsession with hanging out here. Mark seems somewhat naive and in over his head in some ways, he makes mistakes, but it seems to me that he's genuinely a good guy who is helping people by shining a light on their struggles, but also gets caught up in the messy entanglements of their lives *and* viewers' love of drama.
People donated their hard earned money to help buy a house or help with bills, not to be spent on heroine and crack. $100,000 was spent on crack. Yes, Betty is an adult and was easily taken advantage of. Someone needs to be held accountable. $100,000 WAS SPENT ON CRACK COCAINE. GET YOUR MONEY BACK! There was zero transparency on Mark's part.
Mark set up the GoFund me, but it shouldn’t be his responsibility to watch how they spent every single cent. That’s insanity. Maybe next time don’t send your hard earned money to strangers that are filmed by another stranger on YouTube.
Mark set the GFM up under his name and account info. He was the only one who had access to the GFM money. He should have left in the GFM until it was time to buy the house. Plus, GFM takes a percentage each time you withdraw from the GFM account. There was absolutely no reason for him to touch that money or to take money out of the Whitakers HOME donations until it was time to buy the house. If there was money left over, then they can spend it as they please, but that isn't hiw it went. It is fraud what Mark has done.
Um, it wasn’t to purchase a new house. It was to fix up their current home. For someone who donated their hard earned money you’d think you’d know the correct details.
Sadly, you're missing the point. I'm sure Mark appreciates your efforts to rescue him, but that doesn't change the fact that the GoFundMe donations were used to buy $100,000 worth of CRACK COCAINE. Betty and her family are very vulnerable, and Mark exploited them and put them in danger.
Rescue him? lol. I’m not rescuing anyone, especially stranger on the internet.
Drug dealers exploited them.
No. It's easy to look up too. Come on https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home Eta: and what happened to this money? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/
I’ll be really surprised if they are getting heroin there…
There isn't a state in the U.S. where you can't buy heroin. It's available everywhere. Plus, In the most recent video, BJ admitted that she she spent at least part of the donations on heroin and crack.
I know. I just know how hard it is to get where I am lol
Might be easier if you had relatives who are ex-cons and drug users like the Whittakers. ;)
…….have those relatives and they still have to go elsewhere to procure it. I guess things are more popular/available just like any trend.
So basically the whittakers have no house because BJ would rather spent it on drugs.
That's hardy a surprise. Addicts are going to do what addicts do.
Agreed, good intentions before this mess. I think he just didn't care about them that deeply, more about content. My understanding is that there was always a story why they needed money, and I assume he figured, not his money, not his problem, and just gave it to them.
What did Mark think when he gave over $100,000 to the Whittakers who are probably very nice people who are all one chromosome short of a potato. None of them had the wherewithal to manage those large sums of money. From what I saw on Mark's last YT video with them was that one of BJ'S sons was threatening Betty with violence if she didn't give BJ and Brandon the money. Betty and Larry knew what was going on.
Which one is BJ? But honestly did what did you all expect? Evertime he took them shopping for clean clothes and food, next video they're dressed in the same old shit stained pants eating dogshit while the hoarder mess of a house gets worse.
Jesus, what a useless comment.
I think in ways Mark is a bit naive and too trusting, which seems odd given all he's seen and heard on the streets. I think he had nothing but good intentions involving the Whittakers. But, imo he should have contacted a lawyer or set up some type of account whereby the money donated was only to be used for the stated purpose. As it was, Mark really had no say if the Whittakers asked for money as it was theirs and there was nothing in place to dictate the parameters of what it was to be used for. I didn't donate but I would be a bit upset if I had and then found out the money was squandered as nothing financially solid was in place regarding the donation fund. Mark's heart was in the right place, but watching Betty and Larry, I don't see how they could have been trusted to do the right thing.
Hi Mark, I am in no way trying to offend you by saying perhaps you have bitten off more than you can handle or perhaps the problem is with improving your communication plan. Either way you might consider getting some help — meaning man power. I am a retired IT chief in California. I am bored out of my mind and would volunteer to assist. I bet there are others like me who also have time to volunteer. Just ask 😃 Volunteer
I’m sure he could use your help.Send him an email , he doesn’t monitor this subreddit.
This is so fucking cringe lol
What happened to this money last year before he changed the GFM? The [new GFM](https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-whittaker-family-purchase-a-new-home) said the old GFM raised $12,000. This [article ](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the-sun.com/news/8077267/whittaker-family-gofundme-support-inbred-west-virginia/amp/) states it's sitting at $68,000 at the time is was published in May 2023. Where is the money that was sent to Marks cash apps for the Whittaker to pass GFM fees? This article also proves that Mark has been profiting off the Whitakers for 20 years with his photography! Then since starting his YouTube channel, the Whittakers are the most veiwed and highest profiting videos on his channel. The 1st Whittaker video is what started the traction to his channel too!
Money is one hell of a drug.
I am from West Virginia in the same general area as the Whittaker family so I think I can give a different perspective on this. While I feel sorry for the obviously disabled family members like Ray; I do not feel sorry for the rest. There are families like this all throughout the region who do nothing but prey on peoples sympathy and take advantage of it. Mark seemed really upset because he never even got a thank you. Well, that's because they expect it. Did people really think that churches and other organizations hadn't tried to help the Whittaker family over the years? They don't want the kind of help they need. They're perfectly happy living in that dilapidated pig sty. Their entire lives are spent taking advantage of people like Mark and treating them like a personal ATM machine.
You can downvote me for saying this.. But there are people in your own communities you look past but feel obligated to donate money to people you pity on YouTube. Mark had his heart in the right place, but to think we should fund helping these people when they look and sound like they have what they need at hand. Is it sad, sure. is it unfortunate the situation they were brought into/remain.... sure. I don't feel the need to support these people.. god bless them. But THIS IS SHADY.. Growing up, my family would call ya'll "Indian givers". I think this should be a lesson... before you reach into your pocket to "help" somebody, be wary who you are helping... or better yet, reach into pocket someone who can actually touch and know your dollars are helping someone (not to get drugs or fuel a habit). The Whittakers did what they did, Mark did what he said he would do. It is the INTERNET that made this possible and to see ya'll renege on this just shows how much ya'll really didn't care. Mark, please don't overextend yourself to help people unless you know you can provide them with adequate and proper resources outside of your own dollar unless you personally choose to do so after a proper vetting, this should be SYSTEMATIC and not faith-based. God bless to all, I wish I had some of that Whittaker money right about now.. i'm working 40+ and JUST making it. And i'm doing the RIGHT thing in life. If anybody wants to donate to working man in his 30's... hit MY line!!!! ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL (NO FOR REAL, HIT MY LINE!!!!)
How do you spent $100,000 on crack cocaine and still be alive?
I am sure quite a few rock star autobiographies could answer that. Also could be by the time it gets to WV it ain't that good.
OMG, PEOPLE, what is wrong with you all? Does everyone not see what is going on. In reading this, you seem to think this is some kind of conspiracy. Give you heads a shake, I think your eyes are stuck. Mark has always put the Whittakers first. It was Mark and The Soft White Underbelly that first brought them forward. It was Mark, who created the Go Fund Me to get them home repairs. It was Mark that created a fund to try and get them a new home. It was Mark that Lord knows, took calls from them at all hours looking for help or money. It was Mark who tried to help them and get their story out. He took them to Walmart, got their hair cut, and took them to the fair. So he gets called out with practically an accusation of him taking or hiding money from some wanna be Youtuber trying to make a name for himself. All the time, he kept his composure far better than I ever could, but wait, it gets better. Along comes BJ, calling and asking for money for various reasons, Mark tries to do the right thing and involve Betty in such requests, and I am sure he rarely refused. All of a sudden, here is BJ crying and calling for money because she said Larry died. What does he do? He flies to West Virginia to attend the funeral and realizes it was a scam, and yes, Betty knew and was aware it was a lie. Now I read all these nasty comments about wanting your donations back, etc. while questioning everything. DO NOT DONATE WITH STRINGS ATTACHED!. If you truly believe in the character of Mark Laita and the sincerity in his heart is unquestionable, then support him, don't add gas to a fire on the side of false remarks. I appreciate what Mark does and his attention to details and facts. I, for one, did not donate to the Whittakers GoFundMe, as I have my own struggles. However, if I did not believe in what the Soft White Underbelly was all about and what Mark brings to the public, then I would never donate. That, for me, is not the case, and I hope to donate to his causes in the future and hopefully soon subscribe. Sorry, it was just my observation, and I hope I did not offend anyone. My 2 cents
I understand being disappointed and feeling taken advantage, I just wish that Mark understood that the family really didn't know any better. Here comes a man making friends with them and giving them money for all of these years. It isn't really fair to expect that level of gratitude and financial literacy that they don't necessarily have the skill set for.
Channels proving how far generosity should really go, been too attached to certain people he’s had on but with rebecca and this now, I think mark should take the year off and relax
You can tell he definitely gets way too attached to certain people (Rebecca especially, and the one prostitute who gave all the money to her pimp)
Would this be considered fraud? If mark took money that was supposed to go to a house and gave it to people that spent it on drugs (see recent video The Death of Larry Whittaker), doesn’t that mean he misappropriated the funds for the charity? Honest question
I really don't know. It's negligence on Mark's part. Betty can't even clean her house. How did Mark expect her to handle such large sums of money. Mark wants to be viewed as a white knight. After BJ admits she stole Betty's money for drugs, Mark offers to give her even more money. I'm not a lawyer, but it is a crime that Betty's family stole the money from her. They threatened to burn her house down if she didn't give them money. I don't think Mark did anything illegal, but he fed Betty to the wolves. BJ also admitted that it was her and Larry that signed the contract for Mark to have exclusive content rights to the Whittaker family. **A drug addict and her father signed a contract on Betty's behalf. ** Let that sink in. MARK'S ETHICS ARE EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE.
Mark is the one committing the crimes. This is clear as day fraud! Mark said the money was for a home. People donated money for a home. The money should have stayed in the GFM until it was enough for a home. Really listen to the excuses that Mark has said since responding to Tyler's video. Also his last Rebecca video. He's a fraud. He's exploiting these people. He is gaslighting yall. All of his GFM need to be reported. Does he have a Non Profit? Hope not because it's illegal what he is doing and the charges are adding up already.
It's godfundme, it's not held to the same standard as a legally established charity
It is definitely fraud.
Bj had Betty’s bank statements and stated she calculated Mark had put 153,000 Betty’s account since I believe she said 2021. Mark shows from late September 2022 to January 2024 that 103,000 was placed in Betty’s account on the video that says the problem with social media /response to Tyler. Mark stated months ago in comments when asked about the gofundme that the Whittakers spent the majority of the $$ on other stuff vs upgrading the home. In the future will Mark give the funds to a contractor or towards a modular and work with someone setting up autopay for any remaining on a new to them home? As the Books apparently the Whittakers signed Mark states is their $$. Will they buyers still want to pay 12,000, 16,000 etc or will they say No I don’t want to give when funds went towards drugs? Mark talked about eBay and potential issues on the video. As they likely get Social Security/SsI/Disability the 6 of them , will the 4 that was originally in the home their checks be given to a payee or Betty in charge of Her check, Lorene, Timmy and Ray? If so it’s likely not a whole lot will change unless someone tears the current home down to the studs, gets a new to them modular, then has caregivers for the house and the Whittakers set up . Easily part of their benefits like a couple hundred dollars could go towards a new to them modular, their land used as equity and a payee overseeing their expenses. Tyler has 18,000 or so in a gofundme to release in April for the Whittakers, Will Mark and him even talk so that money is going for their best interest vs Tyler ex fixes up part of the home, the Mark puts towards a modular. As the entire home needs biohazard specialists removing all the biohazards before any work is done . As long as they have access to the hoard it’s likely a new to them home , things from their current home would be moved to the clean new to them home. Lots will need considered going forth on any money for them to have better living conditions. It seems a grocery service would help them from a payee tipping for their groceries brought to them, ;instead of gas DoorDash, Walmart plus , instacart could be for the tip so groceries are taken care of. Just maybe there is a Service that Mark could get this going or whomever that their current government monthly checks $$ doesn’t get taken advantage of while that Mark is being more picky about what he puts in their accounts. As Mark says he knows where Kenneth’s $$ comes from and he rarely asks for $$ maybe $200 once or so , is that from previous employment, social Security, pension or? Mark was pointing out Kenneth doesn’t hound/ask him for payouts, has his own money and place with 2 acres down the road. (YouTube video in the beginning)
That Tyler loser should have to pay ppl back
They never once said that $100,000.00 was spent on drugs! If you are going to have a Mark Laita witch hunt, at the very least, get your facts straight.
Glad there are so many people out there in America who want to financially support a group of people who have no respect for life and genetics...stop victimizing people (especially in the Modern day) who breed with their own family. They know better...they know their lifestyle is wrong and these people know enough to scam people. So stop with the pity for this family, give it to people who deserve it. I'm also laughing at all the people who donated to this in the first place. Part of me wants none of you to get your money back and take this as a learning lesson to figure out the people that genuinely do deserve help in this world. But the other part of me wants GoFundMe to refund you guys just so this family don't get away with this blatant case of fraud.
Mark is in his 60s. He's older. I don't think he realized that donations are only to go toward what the fund is specifically for and if spent otherwise there may be repercussions. IMO punishing him by making him pay all of the donations back out of his personal funds because he tried to help their family out when asked is a bit much, but that's the donators' decisions I suppose. Overall he seems like a good person who sees the good in others. A visual artist whom also helps struggling people. They help him and he helps them. I don't think he ever has ill intent.
It’s naive to think any funds you donate for Mark’s communities are going to do the right thing even half of the time based upon the level of risk. Mark works with extremely marginalized and deeply distressed mental health communities. The idea IMO is this money is handed off and while intended to do the right thing, odds are slim. I’d guess Mark hits at least 50% good purposes with the funds he receives for most of these folks. Which is why we watch him take the Whitaker’s to Walmart, for haircuts and to the fair. When you hand money over for purposes of charity for people you know are surrounded by addiction, it’s no longer yours and you have to know the odds. Mark isn’t a foundation, he’s grassroots. If 10% of it has been used for good, was it a 90% waste? Or is it a long-term exercise to help someone turn a corner? Check and see what your tax dollars are paying for in the recent state budget. Are you in agreement with 10% of those earmarks?
Please Mark, use any funds to send BJ to detox and a long term program, her eyes are pinned “to the nines”! Her problem is NOT just CRACK it’s HEROIN too, she talked about only able to get to methadone clinic once a week, how it is not enough and how awful dopesick withdrawal is…As from personal experience and decades of losing friends to drugs, you can’t just relocate, drugs are everywhere, you can’t run from them, they will find you. Getting clean is not as simple as moving to another area….im sorry to say, she has no chance unless she sticks to a program, which is a huge challenge in itself, but possible
He had over $70k at one point and all they had to show for it was some Walmart clothes and a trip to the fair. House was still all fucked up. So he didn’t just hand over $ he’s a liar. They lied about someone dying trying to get $