Bernie Sanders Raises $1.8 Million for
Charity With Inauguration Meme.
On January 20, Bernie Sanders was seen
wearing a parka and a pair of handmade mittens
at the inauguration of Joe Biden. .
His image quickly went
viral, with fans and foes
alike editing him into
anything and everything. .
Days later, Sanders himself jumped on the train
and created “Chairman Sanders” merchandise,
including t-shirts, stickers and sweatshirts.
In the last five days, the now sold-out merchandise has
generated over $1.8 million dollars in donations.
The proceeds were given to a variety of Vermont
charities including Area Agencies on Aging,
Vermont Parent Child Network, Senior Centers
in Vermont and Bistate Primary Care.
In a statement to CBS News, Sanders said
he and his wife, Jane, were “glad” to have
used his “internet fame” to help others. .
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, Bernie Sanders, to CBS News.
Sanders' meme has sparked a number
of other charitable endeavors. .
Getty Images confirmed that it will donate the
proceeds from its part of the "Chairman Sanders" photo licensing agreement to Meals on Wheels of America. .
Burton Snowboards, the company that made the jacket Sanders was photographed in, has donated 50 jackets to the Burlington Department for Children and Families.