94.1 WIP raises $30K for Dallas women’s shelter
Sportsradio 94.1 WIP’s Josh Innes and co-host Spike Eskin have created a GoFundMe page tthat has raised over $30,000 for the Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support in Dallas.
UPDATE: At the 2 p.m. cut-off, Sportsradio 94.1 WIP's GoFundMe page for Genesis Women's Shelter & Support in Dallas had raised $30,205 (though the page is still up and accepting donations).
"I'm so grateful for the fans of Philadelphia," said Bianca Jackson, the director of funds and community development for Genesis. "It has been unexpected."
After disturbing photos of Greg Hardy's battered ex-girlfriend were released by Deadspin, Dallas sports radio, the Cowboys and a good number of their fans all responded to the outcry with a collective "meh."
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who claimed to have not seen the photos before Friday, released a statement late Friday night saying that while his organization does "not condone domestic violence," they were keeping Hardy active on the team because he is "someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and career."
The lack of action, coupled with the support Cowboys fans and Dallas sports radio have given Hardy, caused Sportsradio 94.1 WIP's Josh Innes and co-host Spike Eskin to create a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Genesis Women's Shelter & Support in Dallas.
"Philadelphia is going to show the country how much we care about things that aren't football-related," Innes said on the air Friday. "Let's raise money and show the people in Dallas that while their lousy radio station and football team doesn't care about domestic violence … the people here are good people."
As of Monday morning, WIP has raised more than $22,000 for the shelter, skyrocketing past their $2,500 goal in the first hour alone.
Hardy was convicted by a judge over the 2014 domestic violence incident in North Carolina, but the case was tossed on appeal when Holder couldn't be located to testify, according to an AP story. The incident was expunged from Hardy's record this week. Prosecutors have said Holder reached a financial settlement with Hardy.
The NFL sued for access to some of the photos used at Hardy's trial, eventually reaching a settlement. The league suspended him for 10 games while saying that evidence suggested Holder "was severely traumatized and sustained a range of injuries."
Hardy's suspension under the personal conduct policy was reduced to four games by an arbitrator. He has played four games for the Cowboys, including last night's loss to the Eagles.
"Greg Hardy is an entitled scumbag who hasn't had to suffer for his despicable actions," Innes said. "This was a spontaneous idea to help the women in Dallas because Greg Hardy sure hasn't. I'm blown away by the response. Philadelphians are amazing."