Donate to Ray White - Free After Decades of Proclaiming Innocence, organized by Georgia Innocence Project

Surrounded by his family, friends and legal team, Ray White walked out of the Columbia County Courthouse in Evans, Georgia on May 22, 2024 a free man shortly after a superior court judge overturned his 1996 wrongful conviction. Since he was first wrongfully accused almost 30 years ago of an attack on a woman that he had absolutely nothing to do with, Ray has continuously proclaimed his innocence and decried his wrongful conviction and incarceration. Now, Ray finally will be able to live a full life and enjoy the many freedoms that have long been denied to him. Ray explained, “I am very sorry for what happened to her, but it wasn’t me. On July 5th, 1994, we were both forever damaged. Now is the time to heal.” Part of the healing and recovery process includes reflecting on and learning from the underlying harm. Ray’s case is a stark example of the many ways the criminal legal system can and does fail. Though he had a rock-solid, confirmed alibi, no physical evidence linking him to the crime, and no motive or opportunity to attack the victim, a jury convicted Ray based solely on a remarkably unreliable and externally influenced eyewitness identification. He was sentenced to life in prison, plus two concurrent twenty-year sentences for kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, and burglary. Not only did Ray spend 25 years wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, but his parole conditions over the past three years left him closely monitored and banished from the county where his family lives and his mother is buried, unable to attend church or go to a gym or a park, and unable to be around his young grandkids. Check out Georgia Innocence Project’s blog post and website Freedom Page to learn more about Ray’s case and how he overcame his wrongful conviction and incarceration. Thanks to Ray’s newfound freedom, his future is bright. Ray has spent years working to set himself up for success. Upon being released on parole, he secured a job and housing, and began learning how to live in a new and ever-evolving society. He reconnected with family and friends, and made efforts to forge new friendships. In the process, he met, fell in love with, and married his wife Paula, with whom he adopted two loveable cats. The newlyweds purchased their first home together just a few months ago and now spend much of their time on home projects – working to build a haven for their blended family. Thankfully, Ray has a large and supportive family and network of friends from the community. However, there's still a long road ahead for Ray as he begins to recover and heal following 28 years of wrongful conviction for a crime he did not commit. Imagine being over 60 years old and stepping out of prison following decades of wrongful incarceration, with no money, no social security savings, and no credit history. Consider the limited job skills, decades of medical neglect, relationship challenges, and struggles with trauma. The obstacles are significant. While Ray has done everything in his power to begin working toward security for himself since being released on parole, his options and support have been limited. People like Ray are often left on their own after being freed, with virtually no support from the State to rebuild their lives. With his freedom comes his first real chance to build a sustainable future. GIP has set up this personal, private fundraiser on Ray's behalf, so you can donate directly to Ray and help him get financially back on his feet. With your support, Ray can use these funds to establish medical and mental health care, secure basic necessities, pay for critical services, and support himself and his family long-term. NOTE: Any contributions to this GoFundMe fundraiser will go directly to Ray White as an individual and are NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE. Ray (left) standing in freedom with his brother Chris (right.) Ray (left) and his wife Paula (right). Ray on his bike enjoying some exercise. Ray (center) with members of his legal team, Christina Cribbs (left) and Meagan Hurley (right), enjoying a dinner the night before Ray's hearing. Read more

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Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website?

Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website and How We Support Other GoFundMe Campaigns

At LFEBridge Foundation, we are dedicated to creating a platform where individuals and organizations can maximize their fundraising efforts. As part of our commitment to supporting a wide range of causes, we incorporate articles and URLs from GoFundMe into our website. Here’s why you might see GoFundMe content on our site, how it benefits the fundraising community, and our relationship with GoFundMe:

1. Amplifying Reach for Fundraising Campaigns

• Increased Visibility: By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our platform, we help increase the visibility of various fundraising campaigns. This additional exposure can attract more donors and supporters, helping campaigns achieve their goals more quickly.

• Cross-Promotional Opportunities: Highlighting campaigns from GoFundMe allows us to support a broader spectrum of causes and connect with a wider audience. This cross-promotion benefits both the campaign organizers and potential donors looking for causes to support.

2. Supporting Campaign Growth

• Advertising and Promotion: We understand the importance of visibility in successful fundraising. By showcasing GoFundMe campaigns, we provide an advertising platform that helps these campaigns reach potential donors who might not have discovered them otherwise.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with GoFundMe and featuring their campaigns on our site strengthens the fundraising ecosystem, ensuring that worthwhile causes receive the attention and support they deserve.

3. Expanding Donor Networks

• Broader Donor Base: Featuring a variety of campaigns from different platforms helps diversify and expand the donor base. This means more people can learn about and contribute to a variety of causes, ultimately driving higher engagement and donations.

• Enhanced Outreach: By integrating GoFundMe content, we help campaigns tap into new networks and communities, broadening their reach and potential impact.

How We Help Other GoFundMe Campaigns Grow

1. Featured Campaigns Section

• Highlighting Noteworthy Campaigns: We have a dedicated section on our website where we feature noteworthy GoFundMe campaigns. This not only gives these campaigns a spotlight but also encourages visitors to explore and contribute to them.

• Rotating Features: To ensure a diverse range of campaigns get visibility, we regularly rotate the featured campaigns. This continuous update keeps the content fresh and engaging for our audience.

2. Social Media Promotion

• Sharing Across Platforms: We share selected GoFundMe campaigns on our social media channels to reach a broader audience. Our followers, in turn, can share these posts, amplifying the reach even further.

• Engagement Strategies: Utilizing effective engagement strategies, such as storytelling and compelling visuals, we enhance the appeal of these campaigns, driving more traffic and donations.

3. Email Newsletters

• Campaign Highlights: Our email newsletters often include highlights of impactful GoFundMe campaigns. By doing so, we bring these causes directly to the inboxes of our subscribers, encouraging more people to get involved and donate.

• Donor Updates: We keep our donors informed about the progress and success of the campaigns they have supported, fostering a sense of community and continued engagement.

LFEBridge Foundation's Independence

It’s important to clarify that LFEBridge Foundation is an independent entity and is not part of or affiliated with GoFundMe. While we feature and support GoFundMe campaigns on our site, we operate as a separate foundation dedicated to collecting donations for various causes, similar to GoFundMe. Many of these causes are displayed on our website to provide donors with a wide range of options to support.

Conclusion

By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our website, LFEBridge Foundation supports a wide array of fundraising campaigns, helping them gain the visibility and donations they need to succeed. Through our promotional efforts and strategic partnerships, we aim to create a robust and supportive environment for all fundraising initiatives.

For more information on how we support fundraising campaigns or to explore featured campaigns, visit https://LFEBridge.com or contact us at support@lfebridge.com.