• $1.7million raised for elderly man working in store
• He will pay off debts and fulfill some of his dreams

Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old fund custodian at a Michigan store, received a massive $1.7 million donation as part of a fundraising campaign led by an Australian young man with a large social media following.

Bambas had appeared two weeks ago in a TikTok video, explaining that he was still working in the store despite his advanced age due to his low income after his wife passed away in 2018.

The video sparked the sympathy of millions, prompting Sam Wadenhofer, the video creator with millions of followers, to launch a campaign to collect donations to help him.

The campaign received an overwhelming response, with more than 15,000 people contributing donations ranging from $10 to $10,000.

Thanks to this gift, Bambas was able to pay off debts totaling $225,000, leaving him the decision of how to manage the remaining amount.

Bambas, who started working at the store at age 82, said that interacting with customers helped him overcome his grief after losing his wife, noting that he shares part of his story with many people.

After receiving the amount, he expressed deep gratitude, saying he felt as if he were living a dream.

Despite the huge gift, Bambas said he will continue working for another month or two before retiring completely, confirming his desire to travel to see his brother and return to playing golf.