TORONTO - An American grandmother who was relentlessly bullied by a group of boys while working as a school bus monitor is receiving some Canadian love and lots of money raised by a Toronto man.
Sixty-eight-year-old Karen Klein, of Greece, N.Y., made headlines around the world when a cellphone video showing four seventh-graders tormenting her with profanity, insults and threats during a bus run last June was posted online.
Max Sidorov, 25, of Toronto, was so moved by Klein's story that he started an online campaign with the goal of raising $5,000 to send her on a vacation.
The campaign on fundraising site Indiegogo raised more than $700,000 and Klein is in Toronto today to receive the cheque.
A spokeswoman for the site said more than 30,000 people contributed, with donations coming in from at least 84 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Klein announced in July that she had decided to retire.
Before becoming a bus aide for the Greece Athena Middle School, Klein drove a school bus for 20 years.
The Greece, N.Y. school district has suspended the four students for a year.
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
