Bus monitor Klein says she plans retirement

Several months ago few people in the world knew Karen Klein, a 68 year old bus monitor except perhaps the school children she monitors on the bus, the schoolmanagement, neighbours, family and friends but fast forward July 2012, Klein is about to retire with over $700,000 given to her from all over the world.

A youtube video in which some middle school boys bullied her has brought her an unimaginable retirement package as she plans to retire.

Klein announced she wants to retire a week after the donation the infamous bullying brought her was announced to have amounted to $700,000. However she says her reasons for retiring is not the ‘bounty’.

“I’m not quitting because of what happened. That’s not it,” Karen said. “I enjoyed working with the kids. But I guess it’s my time to leave. That’s what I’ve decided.”

The nfamous video showed the boys insult and call her names for about 10minutes driving her to tears. The video has been reposted several times over that it cannot be ascertained how many times it has been viewed but it sure struck the displeasure of viewers at the act by the boys and inspired generous donations.

25 year old Max Sidorov kicked off a fundraiser on the site Indiegogo.com. a campaign tagged “Lets Give Karen – the bus monitor – H Klein a Vacation!”. He said his initial goal was to raise $5,000 by the middle of July but the site drew in $703,833 from 30,000 donors in all 50 states and more than 84 countries.

“I think that people just love rallying around a great cause, especially helping someone in need or who has been abused or can’t stand up for themselves,” Sidorov said. “It just shows there are so many great people in the world. It warms my heart to see that.”

Klein says she plans to donate some of the donation money to Mary Cariola Children’s Center and School of the Holy Childhood.

Whilst two of the four bullies have apologized for their actions, all four have been suspended for a year and will complete 50 hours of community service with senior citizens and enroll in a bullying prevention program.

“I am so sorry for the way I treated you,” one boy wrote. “When I saw the video I was disgusted and could not believe I did that. I am sorry for being so mean and I will never treat anyone this way again.