PHOENIX, AZ (KPHO) – Crowdfunding is a popular way to get some much-needed cash, and there’s a growing trend of people who are using websites like GoFundMe to help fund their dreams of becoming parents or adding to their families.
Kristin Wolfe and her husband Jason are one of a handful of Valley couples who turned to the Internet after what’s become an emotionally and financially draining path to parenthood.
“My husband and I had been trying for about two, 2 1/2 years with no success,” Wolfe said.
They then turned to IVF, or In Vitro Fertilization. She says round one cost them $28,000.
Wolfe did get pregnant but sadly it did not last. She had a miscarriage early on.
“Very crucial time period that I did not make through,” she said.
Vowing not to give up on their dream of becoming parents but faced with another pricey round of IVF, they created a GoFundMe page.
“Number one, we needed the money; and number two, it’s a great way to reach out to people that you already know without directly asking them, ‘Hey I need a little help here,'” Wolfe said.
The Wolfe family is not alone.
According to numbers pulled from GoFundMe, since 2012 there have been 1,602 campaigns that mention IVF with donations totaling $2,720,139. Also since 2012, there have been 3,283 campaigns that mention adoption with donations totaling $6,303,562.
“Adoptions are complicated and can be very expensive,” attorney Douglas Gardner said.
Gardner specializes in family law and is a partner at Davis Miles McGuire Gardner, PLLC. He says it is important to discuss the pros and cons of crowdfunding children with clients.
“On the one hand, good for them. It’s expensive, and anything you can do to get that is fantastic. At the same time I have concerns about anything being posted on the Internet is going to be there forever,” he said.
Wolfe says putting herself out there is a small price to pay to become a parent.
“Fingers crossed second time is it,” she said.
Since sharing her struggles, Wolfe said she has also received some incredible support.
As for her goal, she set it at $5,000 just to see what might come of it.
With 77 contributions so far, she has surpassed that goal and plans to start round two early next year.
