The phenomenon that has become BatKid keeps making headlines a week after San Francisco residents turned out by the thousands to cheer him on.
After the incredible success of the Make-A-Wish foundation’s effort to make his special wish of becoming Batkid for a day, the parents of Miles Scott are giving back and have established a fund to raise money for the charities that helped them in their time of need.
It is estimated that over 20,000 showed up a week ago to make BatKid’s dream come true, when San Francisco transformed into Gotham City, so our little superhero could save those in distress.
BatKid also took social media by storm with the hashtag #SFBAtKid or #BatKid, with thousands tweeting about the events and the adorable 5-year-old Leukemia patient.
His disease, which BatKid had battled most of his short life, is now in remission.
“We are eternally grateful and humbled by the outpouring of love and compassion we’ve received since Miles had his wish to be Batkid,” his parents, Nick and Natalie Scott said, in a statement.
“We were honored to receive many offers of gifts or assistance, but now that Miles’ leukemia is in remission, we want to use this moment to draw attention to other parents who are coping with (the) serious illness,” they said.
The Scott family has partnered with the San Francisco Forty Niner’s Foundation to establish a BatKid Fund .
The announcement says that all proceeds from donations to the fund will be split evenly between the three charities that helped the family deal with Miles’ illness for all those years: the San Francisco Make-a-Wish Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, and the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon.
“I hope you will join us in supporting and helping others,” BatKid’s parents said. “It seems only fitting that following a day when the world demonstrated caring and compassion for Batkid… Batkid can now help others.”
Some have criticized the city for the large amount of money spent on that day making BatKid’s dream a reality.
According to the Associated Press , the events of last week cost $105,000 mostly spent on the sound system, video screens, and other equipment at the last minute, due to the overwhelming number of people? that came out to watch Scott receive a chocolate key to the city.
However, the mayor’s office says no additional expenses were incurred by the city in celebrating BatKid’s special day and they hope that any money that was used will be covered by private donations.
BatKid has become a celebrity overnight, here is a video of what took place in San Francisco a week ago today .