(WWJ) An online fundraiser has been launched to help Michigan resident Paul Whelan get back on his feet.
Whelan, from Novi, spent years in a Russian prison after he was arrested in Moscow, charged with spying in December of 2018, and sentenced to 16 years in prison.
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He was released on August 1, 2024, and as part of the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the United States since the Cold War.
Upon arriving in U.S., Whelan was greeted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris before traveling to a military station and participating in a post-isolation reintegration program.
A message posted to the GoFundMe page, which is the only official fundraiser for Whelan, reads:
"Paul is a resilient person, but he has an obvious challenge ahead. He lost his job, his home, his car, his personal property as well as any semblance of normality. He turned 54 years old in Russia and lost more than five years of opportunity to earn and generate resources during a critical time in his professional career. He's doing as well as he can, but being held hostage did have a tremendous impact on his life.
"All donations will be used to off-set the costs to rebuild and restart his life. Paul has immediate needs and we are looking for support to help him until he can get to a place where he is, once again, entirely self-sufficient. He needs help to cover expenses for housing, a car, medical, dental, and optical care. To seek employment, he needs a phone, computer, wardrobe and a host of other personal items. Your gifts will allow him to get a fresh start.
"Paul is relying on the kindness and generosity of Americans to help a fellow patriot re-acclimate, and feel a sense of community and get back on his feet."
As of Monday, a little more than $10,100 had been raised toward a $40,000 goal.
Those who wish to help Whelan can make a donation at this link.
Last week, Whelan visited Washington D.C. where met with the Michigan delegation and thanked all the people who helped secure his release.
“They were probably glad to see me leave to be quite honest. But here I am. And I’m starting a new chapter in my life,” Whelan said. “The conditions were poor. The Russians said the poor conditions were part of the punishment. And coming back to see this sort of thing now is a bit of a shock, but it’s a good shock."
The Russians convicted Whelan of being a spy, which he has consistently denied.
WWJ Newsradio 950 has calls out to Whelan seeking an interview.
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