Former NFL player Antonio Brown has initiated a GoFundMe campaign aimed at supporting Chris Louis, a 24-year-old father who reportedly left three children unattended at a McDonald’s in Augusta, Georgia, while attending a job interview on March 22.
As reported by The Independent, Chris Louis allegedly left his children—ages 10, 6, and 1—in the restaurant, prompting a bystander to alert the authorities due to their unsupervised state. Witnesses indicated that Louis was gone for less than two hours.
Upon his return, he informed officers that he was unable to take his children home because he lacked transportation.
Following the incident, the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office arrested Louis, charging him with deprivation of a minor. The children’s mother subsequently arrived at the scene to take custody of them.
In reaction to this situation, Antonio Brown launched the GoFundMe on April 2, starting with a generous personal contribution of $1,084. The initial fundraising goal of $50,000 has surpassed $75,000 thanks to the support of many donors.
In his campaign description, Brown expressed his empathy for Louis’s predicament, highlighting the challenges some parents face when they cannot afford child care. He wrote:
“Story caught me by surprise. A dad just trying to find a way to make money for his family. I know he shouldn’t just leave his kids, but some people don’t have the means for babysitting, etc. This GoFundMe is set in place to help this man. I have spoken with GoFundMe and they will get the funds to Chris and his family. I haven’t spoken to Chris yet, but I hope to do so soon. God Bless – AB.”
Insights on Antonio Brown’s Fundraising Efforts
The GoFundMe campaign is titled ‘Pursuit of Happiness – Chris Louis’, which pays homage to the 2006 film inspired by the true story of businessman Chris Gardner. Notable figures, including reality TV star Chris “Swaggy C”Williams and ESPN sports commentator Kirk Herbstreit, have also contributed $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.
On the same day the fundraiser launched, Brown tweeted about his communication with Louis’s girlfriend, who revealed that the family had been homeless since November 2024 and that Louis was indeed away for a job interview when the incident occurred.
Antonio Brown has assured that the donations will only be released once the situation is fully verified. Should there be any doubt about the authenticity of the story, he plans to refund all contributions.
“Spoke to his girlfriend this morning. She said he was at a job interview and that they had been homeless since November. No funds will be sent to family till story is verified.. if can’t verify story.. I will have @gofundme refund the money to everyone who has given. Blessings,” Brown tweeted.
According to The Augusta Chronicle, a manager from the West Bank Inn has corroborated that Louis was indeed scheduled for a job interview on March 22. As of now, Brown’s GoFundMe has raised over $75,000, demonstrating significant public support for Chris Louis and his family.