Multi-awarded and Oscar-nominated actor Edward Norton proves that he is an all-around good guy when, after reading a feature on the heartbreaking story of a Troy-bound Syrian refugee scientist in "The Syrian Americans" series of the Humans of New York (HONY), he decided to take action and set-up a crowdfunding site to help the man and his family.
Norton's crowdfunding site was launched on Dec. 12 and the actor shared the link on his Facebook account, along with a request to check out the scientist's story.
"I saw this story on one of my favorite sites, Humans of New York, and it moved me to tears... If we don't welcome people like this into our communities and empower his dream of making an impact with his life, then we're not the country we tell ourselves we are. Let's reject the 'anti-human' voices that tell us to fear refugees and show this man and his family what Americans are really made of," Norton wrote.
Norton's crowdfunding site raised $375k for the scientist's family by the morning of Dec. 13 and many are still contributing, leading to donations crossing the $385k mark. Norton said that any excess donations will be given to the 11 other Syrian refugees featured in the HoNY "Syrian American" series.
The scientist, who has been diagnosed with cancer, shared his life as a farmer's son in Syria and how he worked hard in construction sites as a teenager just to be able to earn money for his education.
"My ultimate goal was to become a great scientist and make a lasting contribution to humanity," he shared.
The scientist and his family were happy until a missile tore through their home and took the life of his wife, as well as six other family members while he was at work one day. He is left with a traumatized son and a daughter who still has shrapnel embedded in her neck to this day.
"We survived but we're dead psychologically. Everything ended for us that day," he said.
The scientist's story came out on Dec. 8 and garnered a response not only from Norton but from President Barack Obama as well.
"You and your family are an inspiration... you can still make a difference in the world, and we're proud that you'll pursue your dreams here. Welcome to your new home. You're part of what makes America great," President Obama commented on Facebook.
