Feb. 14, 2026 "Celebrities defend Van Der Beek family from ‘attacks’ after GoFundMe raises $2 million": Today I found this article by Inga Parkel on the Independent and Yahoo:
A handful of celebrities have fiercely defended James Van Der Beek’s family against backlash after a GoFundMe was launched on their behalf to support them in the wake of the actor’s death.
Following the death of the Dawson’s Creek star last Wednesday from stage three colorectal cancer, family friends launched a GoFundMe to support his wife, Kimberly, and their six young children amid the costly medical bills they incurred during his care.
At the time of writing, the family has raised more than $2.5 million.
While the family has received an outpouring of both emotional and financial support from a slew of fans and fellow celebrities
— including director Steven Spielberg, who generously donated $25,000
— some have questioned the family’s need for financial assistance given Van Der Beek’s fame.
“Not everything is what it looks like online. A little context goes a long way,”
Broadway star Donna Vivino wrote Friday on Instagram.
“For those of you attacking James Van Der Beek’s wife for having a GoFundMe may I give you some FACTS?”
She noted that the “family [does] not OWN the farm they live on, they were renting,”
and that they were not living off Dawson’s Creek residuals.
In 2012, Van Der Beek told TODAY.com that
“there was no residual money” from the hit show.
“I was 20. It was a bad contract. I saw almost nothing from that.”
Vivino added that months before his death, Van Der Beek began auctioning off memorabilia from his career to help support himself and his family.
Finally, she emphasized that “cancer treatment is effin expensive even WITH insurance.”
“Heartbreaking that you even needed to make this post,” Yellowstone actor Hassie Harrison commented on Vivino’s post. “How can people be so rotten.”
Singer-songwriter Deborah Cox added: “This industry is shameful,”
while Real Housewives of Orange County alum Braunwyn Windham-Burke said:
“Our family is drowning in medical debt because of my dad’s cancer, my parents saved, worked hard and had a great retirement…all gone.”
The Young and the Restless star Michelle Stafford shared a similar message:
“At the end of my father’s treatment before he died. And he had very good insurance I add… a certain medication that his insurance would not pay for was $3000 a month.
People who made disparaging comments, just don’t know.”
Van Der Beek’s death at 48 came just over a year after he revealed in November 2024 that he had privately been receiving treatment for bowel cancer.
“He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,”
Kimberly wrote on Instagram announcing his passing.
“There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” she added.
https://ca.style.yahoo.com/celebrities-defend-van-der-beek-154037756.html
My opinion: I'm not a fan of Van Der Beek. The USA healthcare system needs to improve a lot.
Feb. 17, 2026 "‘Big Bang Theory’ Star Kunal Nayyar Uses ‘GoFundMe to Pay Random Families’ Medical Bills’ After Being One of the World’s Highest-Paid TV Actors": Today I found this article by Zach Sharf on Variety and Yahoo:
Kunal Nayyar’s recent interview with The i Paper is currently going viral on X thanks to “The Big Bang Theory” actor’s revelation that he frequently goes on GoFundMe to anonymously donate to campaigns that provide money towards medical bills for families. Fortune magazine reported earlier this year that Nayyar’s reported net worth is $45 million.
“Money has given me greater freedom
and the greatest gift is the ability to give back,
to change people’s lives,”
Nayyar said in December.
“We also support animal charities because we love dogs.
But what I really love to do is go on GoFundMe at night and just pay random families’ medical bills.
That’s my masked vigilante thing!
So, no, money doesn’t feel like a burden.
It feels like a grace from the universe.”
Nayyar starred as Raj Koothrappali on all 12 seasons of “The Big Bang Theory,” the hugely popular CBS sitcom that ran from 2007 to 2019. The cast was earning a reported $1 million per episode at the height of the show’s success. Forbes even ranked Nayyar as the world’s third-highest-paid TV actor in both 2015 and 2018 with annual earnings of $20m and $23.5m, respectively. The actor told The i Paper that wealth does not “weigh heavy” on him and he’s happy to donate to charitable causes.
“The Big Bang Theory” actor’s interview gained traction on social media amid the news of James Van Der Beek’s friends launching a GoFundMe campaign after the late actor’s death in order to raise money for his wife and six children, who were left “out of funds” after his cancer battle. The campaign raised $2.6 million.
“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for showing up for James and his beautiful family.
Your kindness has meant more than we can put into words,”
read a statement from the actor’s friends.
“In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light.
It reminds us that
love is real,
that community is strong,
and that James’s spirit continues to bring people together…
Your respect and understanding will give them the room they need to heal.”
Feb. 18, 2026 Sicko: This is a documentary by Michael Moore. I have seen his Bowling for Columbine and Farenheit 9/11 and they're good. This was edu- tainment like educational and entertaining.
I haven't seen this though:
"A documentary comparing the highly profitable American health care industry to other nations, and HMO horror stories including shotgun deaths."
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386032/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_sicko
I then thought: Do you get tax receipts for gofundme?
Tax information for donors
Is my donation Tax-Deductible?
Donations made to a personal GoFundMe fundraiser, rather than a nonprofit fundraiser, are generally considered to be personal gifts and aren’t guaranteed to be tax-deductible.
But, you can always check with a tax professional to be sure.
You won’t be issued a tax receipt from GoFundMe.
Only donations made to GoFundMe nonprofit fundraisers are guaranteed to be tax-deductible in the US, the UK, Canada, Ireland, and Australia and will receive tax receipts automatically from our nonprofit partner, PayPal Giving Fund, or from GoFundMe Pro for enrolled US nonprofits. Donors in other countries will still be emailed the tax-deductible receipt, but you'll need to check with your local tax authority to confirm if they are tax-deductible. Donations to these fundraisers are collected by PayPal Giving Fund, a non-profit organization, or GoFundMe Pro and distributed to the designated nonprofit.
Curious about tax-deductibility of GoFundMe Giving Funds? Check out the Giving Funds Help Center.
How do I know I am donating to a Certified Nonprofit Fundraiser?
If you made a donation and aren’t sure whether it was for a nonprofit fundraiser or personal fundraiser, you can check by going back to the fundraiser page. On a nonprofit fundraiser, the name of the charity will be located next to the name of the GoFundMe organizer. In the US, it will include a "Tax deductible" tag. In other countries, there will be a green check next to the name of the charity.
https://support.gofundme.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039267752-Tax-information-for-donors
Sun. Feb. 22, 2026 Leo polls:
Nancy B, Lachine, Quebec, would like to know:
Do you think schools should be managed by municipalities rather than provincial school boards?
No 66.19% (1523)
Yes 33.81% (778)
Edith R, Quebec, Quebec, would like to know:
Do you go winter camping?
No, it’s not for me
78.82% (5302)
No, but I’d like to try
15.53% (1045)
Yes, occasionally
4.49% (302)
Yes, regularly
1.16% (78)
Post Secret (Part 38)/ Post Secret -Holidays (Part 7)
Nancy D, Longueuil, Quebec, would like to know:
If you could, would you change your first name?
No, I like my name 86.09% (6553)
Yes, definitely 12.31% (937)
I have already changed it 1.60% (122)
