Christine Blasey Ford Is Donating All Her GoFundMe Money To Sexual Assault Survivors

Nothing infuriates me more than when people question why sexual assault survivors remain silent for so many years. Any woman who has been a victim of sexual violence knows the risks that come with outing your perpetrator. When Christine Blasey Ford publicly came out with her allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, she was open about why she waited so many years to share her story and why she originally wanted to remain anonymous. She feared for her safety and she still does, which is why she has kept a low profile since the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings in October. The psychology professor who has since received numerous death threats wants to use her experience to help empower other survivors by donating all her GoFundMe money to them.

Since Ford’s allegations became public, the professor has had to move houses four times, she has received numerous death threats, and had to hire private security to help protect her and her family. The GoFundMe page which managed to raise nearly $650,000 in the last two months, helped fund all of that.

“The funds you have sent through GoFundMe have been a godsend. Your donations have allowed us to take reasonable steps to protect ourselves against frightening threats, including physical protection and security for me and my family, and to enhance the security of our home,” she wrote in a recent update on the GoFundMe page. “We used your generous contributions to pay for a security service, which began on September 19 and has recently begun to taper off; a home security system, housing and security costs incurred in Washington DC, and local housing for part of the time we have been displaced. Part of the time we have been able to stay with our security team in a residence generously loaned to us.”

Ford announced that she is officially closing the account to further contributions. She plans on donating the remaining funds to organizations that support survivors of sexual violence.

“All funds unused after completion of security expenditures will be donated to organizations that support trauma survivors,” she wrote. “I am currently researching organizations where the funds can best be used. We will use this space to let you know when that process is complete.”

As disruptive as the public hearings have been on her personal life, Ford has zero regrets about publicly coming forward with her allegations against Kavanaugh.

“Although coming forward was terrifying and caused disruption to our lives, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty,” she wrote. “Having done so, I am in awe of the many women and men who have written me to share similar life experiences, and now have bravely shared their experience with friends and family, many for the first time. I send you my heartfelt love and support. I wish I could thank each and every one of you individually. Thank you.”

The fact that Ford chose to use the remaining funds to pay it forward despite all the challenges this has brought her and her family, speaks volumes. She not only fulfilled her civic duty but she has continued to make empowering and supporting other survivors a top priority. Let’s never forget her bravery.