'He was blown away.' Strangers raised $1.7 million for 88-year-old Army vet to retire

At 88, Ed Bambas can finally retire and start living the life he'd always dreamed of, thanks to some generous strangers.

Social media influencer Samuel Weidenhofer presented Bambas, an Army veteran who works full-time at a Meijer store in Detroit, with a $1.7 million check on Dec. 5. The money was raised in less than a week by more than 50,000 online donors.

"He was blown away. He cried about 15 times," Weidenhofer told USA TODAY. He said Bambas was thanking his late wife for the miracle.

"He feels like she's looking down at this whole situation, and she's there for him," Weidenhofer said. "It was just really beautiful, you know? A weight was lifted off his shoulders."

Weidenhofer, who posts inspiring videos on TikTok, shared a video of Babmas telling his story on Dec. 1. Bambas said he lost his pension and health insurance in 2012. Around the same time, his wife was sick. He sold his home to cover the cost of caring for her.

General Motors, where Bambas used to work, claims its pensioned workers were given offers in 2012 and that pensions weren't totally taken away.

"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," a spokesperson for the company wrote in a statement. "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 supplement Medicare coverage."

Bambas's son later clarified with Weidenhofer's team that Bambas accepted a lump sum in 2012, but that money went quickly to cover his wife's medical bills and he's since fallen into debt.

Seven years after her death, Bambas said he's working eight-hour days, five days a week at Meijer.

"It's such a relatable situation," Weidenhofer said. He said his own grandfather was in the military and lost his wife recently. There are so many people who fought for America who are still working well-past retirement age, he said, and were "in a way, left behind, you know? And that's not right. It's bigger than Ed."

'This is unbelievable.' Strangers raise more than $1.5 million for Army vet

When he posted Bambas's story, Weidenhofer also linked to a GoFundMe to help Babmas. The video went viral, garnering 8 million views, and donors raised more than $1.5 million in three days to support the Army veteran.

"This is unbelievable," Weidenhofer wrote on Facebook on Dec. 4. "Thank you for coming together to change an 88-year-old veteran’s life. And thank you for helping shine a light on all the veterans out there — all the 'Ed’s' who are still working hard just to make ends meet."

It's been a whirlwind for Bambas. In an interview for a local ABC news station in Detroit, Bambas said he tries to go to his wife's gravesite every day "to say hi."

"I think my wife sits on my shoulder and helps me do the right thing," Bambas said.

After presenting Bambas with the check, Weidenhofer said he and Bambas went out for a nice dinner to celebrate.

What's next for Bambas? Visiting his brother on the East coast.

"He burst into tears because his brother's fighting cancer," Weidenhofer. "And he hasn't been able to afford to see him."

Bambas told Weidenhofer he might work for another month or two, and then it will be time to kick back.

"He's just grateful that he can enjoy the rest of his life," Weidenhofer said.

This story has been updated with new information.

Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.

Reach Madeline at [email protected] and @maddiemitch_ on X.