Karen Klein, bullied bus monitor, collects check for $700K
Bus monitor Karen Klein, 68, speaks about the outpouring of kindness in response to the YouTube video of her being bullied by middle school students.
Bullied bus monitor Karen Klein collected her retirement check today in Toronto, saying she isn’t sure what to do with the $703,833 raised by more than 30,000 people from 84 countries.
Canadian Max Sidorov – like 1.3 million others – watched the YouTube video of students taunting Klein, 68, on a school bus in Greece, New York.
He took to fundraising website Indiegogo hoping to generate $5,000.
“I didn’t want to let this go; I wanted to do something for this woman,” Sidorov told CBC. “As we can see now, the world has rallied around and donated a lot of money to send her on a dream vacation, and maybe even retirement.”
More from GlobalPost: Karen Klein, bullied bus monitor, to retire
Klein, a grandmother, retired from her job as bus monitor, but told reporters she hasn’t yet watched the 10-minute video.
The video, posted in June, shows her trying to ignore the boys' insults.
She said her miserable treatment has also shown her a better side of humanity.
“It’s just been wonderful,” she told reporters. “I’ve enjoyed meeting lots of nice people, and I hope that kids learn from what happened to me.”
The students – four middle school students – received one-year suspensions from school and the bus.
Sidorov is a Toronto nutritionist.
More from GlobalPost: Bus monitor bullies receive death threats
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.