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Sweet Cakes by Melissa crowdfunder breaks record with $352K
The Washington Times ^ | July 14, 2015 | Valerie Richardson

Posted on 07/14/2015 10:46:31 AM PDT by jazusamo

A crowdfunding campaign for the Oregon bakery Sweet Cakes by Melissa has set a site record by raising $352,500 in about two months after being kicked off the GoFundMe website, far exceeding the initial goal of $150,000.

Jesse Wellhoefer, founder of Continue to Give, said the Sweet Cakes effort has raised more than any previous campaign on behalf of individuals in the three-year-old crowdfunding website’s history.

Continue to Give also handles ongoing fundraising for nonprofit organizations as well as mobile and kiosk tithing for churches.

GoFundMe, the nation’s largest crowdfunder, removed a campaign for Sweet Cakes by Melissa in April after receiving complaints from gay-marriage supporters. The bakery’s owners, Aaron and Melissa Klein, are locked in a legal battle with the state for refusing to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony, citing their religious beliefs.

Mr. Wellhoefer said his company had received “lots and lots” of complaints about the Sweet Cakes crowdfunding campaign, but that he has refused to remove it.

“Lots of people have been asking us to take it off,” Mr. Wellhoefer said. “Our response has been, ‘Thank you for your concern, have a great day and God bless you.’”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: aaronklein; continuetogive; firstamendment; homosexualagenda; melissaklein; oregon; oregonlaborboard; sweetcakes
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To: jazusamo

Declaring bankruptcy and liquidating the fine altogether appers to be off the table now.


21 posted on 07/14/2015 11:08:55 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: grobdriver

In Oregon, punitive awards aren’t paid to plaintiffs, they go directly to the state. Only actual damages can be paid to plaintiffs and these women have $zero.


22 posted on 07/14/2015 11:10:09 AM PDT by CityCenter (Walker, Cruz in any order.)
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To: DoodleDawg

Yes, I just hope they win their appeal to liquidate the fine. :)


23 posted on 07/14/2015 11:12:05 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
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To: jazusamo

Contributors are just a bunch of haters. /sarc


24 posted on 07/14/2015 11:13:27 AM PDT by fwdude (The last time the GOP ran an "extremist," Reagan won 44 states.)
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To: DoodleDawg
“Lots of people have been asking us to take it off,” Mr. Wellhoefer said. “Our response has been, ‘Thank you for your concern, have a great day and God bless you.’”

Love it!

25 posted on 07/14/2015 11:13:54 AM PDT by Shelayne
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To: CityCenter

I believe these two awards were for damages. I read a list of the phony claims by these two lesbians some time back, one was for loss of sleep. Sheesh.


26 posted on 07/14/2015 11:14:59 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
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To: CityCenter

I thought the ruling specifically stated the lesbians were due that money for all of the pain and suffering they had endured.


27 posted on 07/14/2015 11:16:02 AM PDT by digger48
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To: jazusamo
Yes, I just hope they win their appeal to liquidate the fine. :)

Have they appealed yet?

28 posted on 07/14/2015 11:16:36 AM PDT by DoodleDawg
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To: DoodleDawg

It doesn’t sound like they have as yet, from this article:

“The Kleins are expected to appeal the labor commissioner’s July 2 decision to the Oregon Court of Appeals.”


29 posted on 07/14/2015 11:19:38 AM PDT by jazusamo (0bama to go 'full-Mussolini' after elections: Mark Levin....and the turkey has.)
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To: jazusamo
Sweet Cakes by Melissa crowdfunder breaks record with $352K

I can see it coming:

Did we say the fine was $135,000?? Our bad, that was a typo we meant: $351,000

30 posted on 07/14/2015 11:19:52 AM PDT by Michael.SF. (This tagline lists all of Hilary's accomplishments............................)
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To: tanknetter; All

Just curious about one thing..do the people who receive these funds from places like KickStarter or GoFundMe have to report them as income ( and pay taxes)? Will Melissa get an IRS audit next year?


31 posted on 07/14/2015 11:19:59 AM PDT by ken5050
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To: ifinnegan

Too bad they’re going to have to pass a law to do that. There’s this little prohibition on “Ex Post Facto” laws. . .


32 posted on 07/14/2015 11:25:23 AM PDT by Salgak (Peace Through Superior Firepower. . . .)
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To: jazusamo

“Mr. Wellhoefer said his company had received “lots and lots” of complaints about the Sweet Cakes crowdfunding campaign, but that he has refused to remove it.”

I salute you, Mr. Wellhoefer. It’s bad enough the Kleins’ business was being destroyed by the Oregon government (8th Amendment and excessive fines, anyone?), but a rival baker (Lisa Watson of Cupcake Jones) got their GoFundMe campaign taken down, leaving these two with no means of avoiding financial ruin.


33 posted on 07/14/2015 11:37:43 AM PDT by DemforBush (Ex-Democrat, and NotforJeb. Just so we're clear.)
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To: jazusamo

Yeah, fight it.

Please don’t pay it.


34 posted on 07/14/2015 11:41:45 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: ken5050

I know enough about tax law to do my own (which are pretty simple) and to otherwise be dangerous :-). So this is what I think happens and should not be taken as definitive or as advice. FWIW.

However I think these donations are counted as individual gifts. Which means gift tax rules apply and so long as there isn’t an individual donation above $10k all the money transfers to them tax free. And the taxes only kick in for individual donations above $10k.

But someone with more knowlege of tax law should definitely feel free to correct me.

I will add that with a take above $500k (which is what this should end up being from the looks of it) they should be able to hire a tax attorney with the money to figure it out and do the paperwork, pay any applicable taxes and still comfortably pay off the fine.


35 posted on 07/14/2015 11:43:03 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: circlecity
Did their lawyers get a stay pending appeal?

I have read that they have asked for a stay on the order...?

Of course that fascist Avakian will ignore...

36 posted on 07/14/2015 11:50:36 AM PDT by Popman (Christ Alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: jazusamo
The actual "Finding of Fact" in this case (link below) ...

It reads like a very bad episode of Jerry Springer

Quite the read...

http://www.oregon.gov/boli/SiteAssets/pages/press/Sweet%20Cakes%20FO.pdf

37 posted on 07/14/2015 11:56:14 AM PDT by Popman (Christ Alone: My Cornerstone...)
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To: digger48

I am not an attorney, but my sister works in the legal system in Oregon. If the state is issuing a fine, then it would not go to this couple, it would go to the state. The only monetary damages that a plaintiff can collect would have to be proven in court as some sort of tangible financial loss. They can be compensated to for this if they can prove it. Things like losing sleep and crying in one’s Cheerios would be considered punitive and the state keeps that money for itself.

I would like to find out for certain if this is a judgment or a fine because there is a big difference between the two things.


38 posted on 07/14/2015 12:03:09 PM PDT by CityCenter (Walker, Cruz in any order.)
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To: jazusamo; newgeezer

Did any talk radio wonks ever give them a minute of advertising time?


39 posted on 07/14/2015 12:04:35 PM PDT by DungeonMaster (Of those born of women there is not risen one greater than John The Baptist.)
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To: jazusamo

I hope they do not pay this “fine” as it would be tantamount to paying a terrorist for ransom.


40 posted on 07/14/2015 12:12:30 PM PDT by Romans Nine
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