MARYVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — “Oh my goodness gracious” were the first words an 85-year-old woman said after discovering how much a viral social media video of her working at a Maryville theater helped raise $146,000 for her retirement this week.
Wednesday, 6 News caught up with Brooklyn Green to learn more about what led her to post that video, which has garnered more than 2.5 million likes on TikTok. She shared that she visited the AMC in Maryville to watch a movie, and as she was leaving, she saw an older woman named Mary hard at work.
“I knew nothing about her. I didn’t even know her name when I went to the theater. I just decided that she was working so hard, and I aspired to be like her one day. Her physical appearance didn’t look too comfortable, especially since the way she was working so hard. So I just decided, let’s shoot our shot. Let’s try to retire her and thought just a couple friends would donate,” Green said.
What new Medicaid work requirements mean for Tennessee and Kentucky
But to Green’s surprise, more than just a few friends donated. In approximately 48 hours, the GoFundMe she set up for Mary brought in over 7,500 donations and a total of $146,317. The fundraiser even grew to the point where what was meant to be a kind surprise reached Mary before Green could deliver the news…