our 2025 fundraiser results

Unless you're new around here (hi!), you probably know that every September we drag our asses out into these chaotic internet streets and we see how much money we can raise to abolish medical debt in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

This year was no different. That is, except for the fact that we crushed every previous year's results. We raised $31,678, which was used to get rid of $5,275,122 worth of medical debt in Georgia.

~ holy shit ~

As you can see in the chart up top, we eliminated medical debt for 3,939 people living in Georgia across 11 counties. Those folks are currently receiving surprise letters in the mail letting them know that their debt has been done away with. Can you imagine their relief? You did that. Thank you so much.

It truly took a village to raise that $31K. Local businesses donating giveaway prizes. A bunch of people spreading the word in various ways. We had 329 donors total, giving anywhere from $4 to $5,000 each.

And that is how you get it done. Everybody gives what they can in order to help out the team. People who can't give? Maybe they forward an email, post it on social media, drop it in some group chats, etc. There was even one idiot who posted more than 120 times (!!!) on bluesky dot com during the fundraiser. Real sicko behavior.

Zooming out a bit, many of you have been donating and helping spread the word on this fundraiser since we started it back in 2023. Adding up the three fundraisers we've done so far, we've raised more than $70,000 that's been used to wipe out more than $12M in medical debt in the ATL metro.

I like to say that I don't know what How I'd Fix Atlanta is or where it's going, and that's largely true, but I hope that HIFA is remembered for this if nothing else.

All of which is to say: incredible work everyone! Thank you, thank you, thank you again. How are we gonna top this in 2026!? Ugh. Sheesh. Who knows.

For now, though: new essay on Dec. 18. After that, we rest.

love,
austie