Quite obviously she was not in a position to defend herself if those horrifying pottymouths had ganged up on her physically, which was a real and present danger. She appears to be a granny whose strength is love, not intimidation.
As for the money, even $250K that I hear has been raised will not be worth the hell of public intrusion into her life that is going to harass her for the rest of her days. And it is also hardly "wealthy." Tax exemption only applies to the first $13,500.
That exemption is on the gift-giver, not the recipient. The recipient of the gift pays nothing in taxes.