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When funny makes money: Bernie Sanders' memes raise $1.8 M for charity

By  PhilSTAR L!fe
Published Jan 28, 2021 10:53 am Updated Jan 28, 2021 11:00 am

It’s all fun and games until the fun and games actually turn out to do something great. Which is awesome! In this case, the viral Internet memes featuring U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders helped raise $1.8 million for the past few days for charity.

The proceeds came from the sale of various merchandise showing the now infamous photo of him during the inauguration of US President John Biden on Jan. 20. Sanders can be seen in the image with his arms and legs crossed wearing a brown parka and recycled wool mittens.

Sanders rode on the growing social media phenomenon as he put up “Chairman Sanders” merchandise on his campaign website, which includes T-shirts, sweatshirts and stickers.

Stocks reportedly ran out within half an hour, which was replenished in a few days only to run out agin due to high demand.

“Jane and I were amazed by all the creativity shown by so many people over the last week, and we’re glad we can use my internet fame to help Vermonters in need,” Sanders said in a written statement, referring to his wife Jane Sanders.

“But even this amount of money is no substitute for action by Congress, and I will be doing everything I can in Washington to make sure working people in Vermont and across the country get the relief they need in the middle of the worst crisis we’ve faced since the Great Depression,” Sanders added.

Sanders’ mittens were reportedly made by Jen Ellis, an elementary school teacher in Vermont.

According to AP, Sanders personally called Ellis to inform her that “the mitten frenzy” has raised an enormous amount for Vermont charities.

Additionally, Sanders also made three more pairs of mittens for fundraising while another pair would be auctioned off on eBay.

The groups that will benefit from the raised money  include Area Agencies on Aging to fund Meals on Wheels throughout Vermont, Vermont community action agencies, Feeding Chittenden, Chill Foundation, senior centers in Vermont and Bi-State Primary Care for dental care improvements in the state.

In a CNN interview, Sanders said he was also having fun seeing the memes and raising funds through it for charity.

“It turns out actually to be a good thing and not only a funny thing," said Sanders.

There have now been far too countless memes that used the now viral photo, but here are a few samples.

This post shows Sanders in a Star Trek scene.

This one features the meme in a scene from The Bachelor.

This one is from the horror film The Shining.

And this one features Sanders sitting on the infamous Game of Thrones.

TAGS: Charity bernie sanders meme

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PhilSTAR L!fe

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