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* Way back in January, we learned that one of our longtime commenters “HangingOn” was worried about having to choose between paying for her daughter Rhiannon’s 8th grade graduation gown or her school lunches because she hadn’t received her contractually negotiated state employee step pay raises.
HangingOn was owed around $7,200 in back pay and was having all sorts of financial troubles. Her daughter had survived brain cancer, but has developmental issues due to her surgery and radiation treatment. Life was becoming very difficult and HangingOn was at her wit’s end.
At my urging, HangingOn set up a GoFundMe account asking for a mere $100. After we discussed her story, y’all stepped up and contributed an impressive $5,710.
* HangingOn sent me an email last night with good news about her daughter…
Rhiannon graduated!
Thanks to you and everyone else that helped make it a special experience. … And it would have been hard to manage without you and the wonderful people from the blog!
<3-HangingOn
Here’s Rhiannon with her diploma…
I love you people.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:12 am
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This.
The world needs more of this.
Comment by Bucky Dempster Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:14 am
Y’All may be wrong sometimes, but you are great people.
This made my Firday.
Comment by OneMan Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:16 am
Way to go Rhiannon! This is big step on your journey and I’m confident more accomplishments lie ahead. BTW, I love your name and the song.
Comment by Cubs in '16 Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:18 am
With all the rain we’ve been having…I needed something to brighten my day. Thanks for this(banned punctuation)
Comment by Jocko Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:18 am
I echo OneMan - you are good people.
Comment by Paddyrollingstone Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:20 am
Rich, you have posted a few of these heartbreaking stories over the years. I think you knew that your loyal readers would do the right thing, but we would not have known had you not shared. Thank you.
And a “tip of the hat” to all my anonymous friends on this site.
Comment by illini Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:23 am
Way to go, Rhiannon…..I agree with Bucky…the world needs more of this!!!
Comment by Previously Known As ? Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:24 am
We can disagree on almost every issue but at the end of the day I’m going to bat for EVERYONE. We set aside our differences in the time of need. Too bad selfish Republicans wouldn’t know such a thing. They do not have a single drop of morality.
Comment by Ryan Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:24 am
I think this fueled me for a month. Thanks HangingOn for sending Rich this update.
Hopefully members of the General Assembly will see this and realize that the illegal theft of wages by Rauner has had huge effects on loyal state workers and will
Appropriate
the contractually owed
and legally obligated
Backpay that caused your crisis.
Comment by Honeybear Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:27 am
Now I’m sitting in my office with tears streaming down my face. While we’re talking about how amazing Rich is, I gotta add that reading his column in the Herald & Review as a young child piqued my interest in state politics. Thanks for everything you do Rich and even more importantly, congrats Rhiannon!!!
Comment by SIUEalum Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:29 am
Glad to see everything worked out! Congrats Rhiannon!
Comment by Seats Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:31 am
I am constantly amazed at the power of voluntary cooperative charitable actions. I’m proud of the CF community.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:36 am
There is nothing around that I can find that is anything like the community Rich Miller built, and prunes, and “moderates”… but in the end, we love Rich, we love this place, and we are there for Rich and each other.
People are inherently good, and want to be good. I believe that. Like anything there are exceptions, but… good wins.
Congratulations Rhiannon.
Well done all.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:43 am
Congratulations to Rhiannon! Rich you do great things with the help of the Capitol Fax community and we are proud of you!
Comment by Unle Ernie Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:45 am
That is an awesome update!
Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:50 am
Where’s the little heart icon for us to click on? I’d click it a dozen times.
Comment by Skeptic Friday, May 24, 19 @ 9:51 am
Congratulations Rhiannon and best wishes HangingOn! Don’t usually contribute to GoFundMe because you hear about scammers. But with the Cap Fax seal of approval this one was a no brainer.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:00 am
Thanks for letting the forbidden punctuation go through Rich. I got so excited about Rhiannon’s good news that I got carried away.
Comment by Ole' Nelson Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:05 am
Congrats Rhiannon, you did all the hard work.
Comment by The Captain Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:05 am
Congrats kiddo. That smile says it all. Best wishes for high school and beyond.
Comment by SAP Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:26 am
Great job! Thanks for the update. Eager to see more of her successes in the future.
Comment by GV Friday, May 24, 19 @ 10:37 am
Nice work all and congrats Rhiannon!
Comment by Boone's is Back Friday, May 24, 19 @ 11:45 am
I read this and was just bragging about you guys to a stranger in the laundry room. I think you’ll have a new fan Rich.
Comment by markg8 Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:13 pm
And congratulations Rhiannon!
Comment by markg8 Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:14 pm
Splendid news. Congratulations, Rhiannon.
And thanks to “Hanging On” for passing on the news and that gorgeous photo, and to you, Rich, for giving us the opportunity to help out.
Comment by JoanP Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:38 pm
This post made my day! What a great picture. Congratulations Rhiannon!
Comment by JGG Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:46 pm
Wanted to thank everyone again so much. And I sent Rhiannon the link and she has been so excited to read the comments. I think she loves seeing people are on her side. We love you all and thanks again (ex. point)
Comment by HangingOn Friday, May 24, 19 @ 12:54 pm