🚨 Before You Donate: Know The Facts

📢 The Campaign In Question

This analysis references a fundraising campaign currently circulating on social media. Before forming an opinion or contributing financially, we encourage you to review all available information.

Clicking this button will show you important information before proceeding to the external fundraising site.

What's Being Claimed Online

Screenshot of the publicly available GoFundMe campaign page, used here for educational commentary and critical analysis under fair use principles

🎭 The Social Media Narrative

Example of publicly shared social media content, used for educational commentary under fair use

GoFundMe Claim: "My 5-year-old son has been labeled a 'public nuisance' by our HOA for simply touching a tree at the bus stop"

What It Says: "Instead of compassion, we've been met with attorneys and legal threats"

How It's Being Shared: Many social media posts describe it as "HOA is suing a 5-year-old for playing"

Frame: Single mother fighting for her child's dignity

Goal: Fundraising for "legal defense"

📄 What The Actual Letter Says

Actual Issue: Unsupervised children engaging in unsafe activities on common property

Specific Concerns: Climbing trees, swinging from branches, throwing rocks/objects

Request: Parents supervise children per HOA covenants

Status: Pre-litigation notice, no lawsuit filed

The Actual Letter (September 24, 2025)

Page 1 of the publicly disclosed letter from HOA legal counsel, reproduced here for educational analysis under fair use

Page 2 of the publicly disclosed letter, reproduced here for educational analysis under fair use

Important Note: The letter is not threatening to sue a child. It's notifying the property owner/tenant of covenant violations and liability concerns. This is standard HOA procedure.

Understanding HOA Liability: Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: The Store Owner

Scenario 2: A Child Visits YOUR House

The HOA Liability Chain - What COULD Happen:

Now ask yourself after reading all three scenarios:

• Would you want to be liable if a child got hurt in YOUR store?
• Would you want to be sued if a child got injured at YOUR house during a visit?
• Would you still think the HOA was wrong for sending a notice about supervision on THEIR property?

The answer is obvious: Everyone wants to protect themselves from liability. The HOA is doing exactly what YOU would do—protecting their property and all the owners who would pay the price if someone gets hurt.

💰 The Real Cost to Everyone

This isn't about targeting a child. It's about protecting everyone in the community from financial liability.

🎯 What Article VII, Section 8 Actually Says

The letter references Article VII, Section 8 of the HOA Declaration, which states:

The HOA legal team applied this covenant because:

• Unsupervised children creating potential liability = nuisance to the community
• Throwing rocks/objects = potential hazard to others
• Activities create risk for injury lawsuits = financial threat to all owners

Valid Question: Should HOA covenants written decades ago be modernized? Possibly. But until they are, these are the binding rules all residents agreed to when purchasing property.

🚨 The Real Concern: What Happens Next?

By taking this issue viral and framing it as discrimination, the following might occur (this is speculation based on some of the heated comments observed from people supporting the posts):

• ✓ Hate directed toward specific board members—including posting pictures of what appears to be a board member walking their dog
• ✓ Community residents feeling unsafe in their own neighborhood
• ✓ Legal fees mounting (for BOTH sides)
• ✓ Community divided and polarized—the letter being sent to neighbors seems like framing where no one will answer negatively, otherwise they'll be posted online

No lawsuit against a child has been filed. However, publicly available information shows that some volunteers and neighbors have reportedly become targets of online harassment as this campaign has spread.

❓ Where Is Your Donation Actually Going?

The GoFundMe states it's for "legal defense." Based on the publicly available documents, here are the observable facts as of the time this analysis was prepared:

Note: The following is speculation and is presented here to remind you that critical thinking is okay—and important—as part of your decision process when considering donations.

Potential actual use of funds:

• Legal costs from any counter-suits or harassment claims filed by affected board members
• Compensation for reputational damage to individuals named online
• Personal expenses unrelated to the HOA matter
• Attorney fees if the mother escalates into actual litigation

Ask yourself: Am I funding a legal defense, or am I funding the aftermath of a social media campaign?

🎓 The Lesson for All of Us

Opinion & Commentary: The following reflects the personal views and analysis of the author based on publicly available information.

In the author's opinion, viral stories often trigger emotions more than critical thinking. The GoFundMe describes being "labeled a public nuisance" and "legal threats," and as observed in various social media posts, some versions describe it as "HOA sues 5-year-old for touching a tree." Such emotionally-charged headlines may generate outrage, sympathy, and urgency to act.

But when you dig into the facts—read the actual documents, understand the legal context, and consider all perspectives—the story often looks very different.

In the author's view, this appears to be about HOA liability procedures, not about attacking a child. The available documents suggest standard HOA procedures to limit liability and protect homeowners from financial risk.

Your money, your choice. But please, make it an informed choice based on facts, not viral headlines.

📱 Context: Evaluating Any Crowdfunding Campaign

General Guidance: The following are questions donors should consider when evaluating any crowdfunding campaign, not specific accusations about this or any individual.

Considerations for all donors: When evaluating any fundraising campaign, publicly available information about the organizer may be relevant to your decision. This might include their experience with content creation, digital platforms, and audience engagement.

Questions to ask yourself: Does the campaign demonstrate professional marketing techniques? What is the organizer's typical online presence? How does professional presentation factor into your assessment of actual need?

Important: Having social media skills or marketing experience does not indicate dishonesty or ill intent. However, donors should apply critical thinking to all crowdfunding campaigns, regardless of presentation quality.

💭 The Bigger Picture: Influencer Culture & Viral Outrage

When you look at situations like this, you have to ask yourself some uncomfortable questions:

This went viral in part because emotional narratives spread faster than nuanced facts. When evaluating any viral fundraising campaign, consider whether the presentation prioritizes outrage and engagement over detailed documentation of specific legal needs.

Society has become one that:

• Reads headlines, not documents
• Feels first, thinks second (if at all)
• Shares before verifying
• Donates based on emotion, not facts
• Cancels before investigating
• Destroys lives based on one-sided stories

Before you click donate. Before you share. Before you pick a side.
READ. THINK. VERIFY.

Your common sense is the only tool that stands between truth and manipulation.
Use it.

⚠️ Legal Disclaimer

This website is for educational and informational purposes only. The content presented here is based on publicly available documents, news reports, and general legal principles regarding property liability. This is not legal advice, and should not be construed as such.

Opinion & Commentary: This website represents the personal analysis, observations, and opinions of an individual reviewing publicly available information. Where opinions are expressed, they are clearly labeled as such. Observations about social media, marketing, and campaign presentation are personal opinions based on publicly visible content and are offered as factors for donors to consider, not as factual accusations of wrongdoing.

No Defamation or False Light Intended: This website does not intend to defame, portray in false light, harass, or harm any individual. All statements are either: (1) based on documented facts from publicly available sources with appropriate attribution, (2) clearly labeled personal opinions and analysis, (3) rhetorical questions designed to encourage critical thinking, or (4) general information about HOA liability practices and legal principles. No statement should be construed as a factual assertion of fraud, dishonesty, or illegal conduct unless explicitly sourced to public records.

Fair Use & Public Interest: All referenced documents, screenshots, and materials are reproduced for educational purposes, critical commentary, and public interest analysis under fair use principles (17 U.S.C. § 107). Such use is transformative, non-commercial, and necessary to provide context for informed public discussion. Images and content are sourced from publicly shared social media posts and publicly disclosed documents.

No Commercial Use or Endorsement: This website is non-commercial and makes no profit. It does not use anyone's name, image, or likeness for commercial purposes or advertising. References to publicly available fundraising campaigns are made solely for educational analysis and public interest commentary.

Neutrality & Protected Speech: This website neither encourages nor discourages financial contributions to any fundraising campaign. The analysis presented offers factual context, multiple perspectives, and questions for consideration to enable individuals to make informed decisions. This content constitutes protected opinion and commentary on a matter of public concern. The existence of this website should not be interpreted as harassment or an attack on any individual or family.

Accuracy & Updates: Information presented is accurate to the best of the author's knowledge as of the date published. Situations may evolve, and readers should verify current status independently. Any factual errors brought to attention will be corrected promptly.

Verification Encouraged: All readers are strongly encouraged to independently verify information, review source documents (linked throughout), consult publicly available court records, and seek advice from qualified professionals before making any decisions.