STATEN ISLAND, NY — More than 5,200 people have donated to a GoFundMe dedicated to former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm, who was paralyzed after a riding accident.

“As we approach the holiday season, we are appealing to anyone and everyone for help to ensure Mike has the resources he needs to walk again. Staten Islanders and all New Yorkers responded – as they always do – in a huge way. Mike is so grateful to everyone for their support. This is not a political issue, this is a human issue,” former South Shore City Councilman Vincent Ignizio told the Advance.

Ignizio, who serves as deputy executive director of the New York City Board of Elections, was one of the first to have go to facebook this weekend to encourage “prayers and a donation” for Grimm.

He revealed that Grimm is unable to walk due to his horse throwing him off while playing polo.

In September, Greg Kelly, former Fox 5 morning anchor and Grimm’s Newsmax colleague, said the former congressman suffered a neck injury that required surgery, and that Grimm had been admitted to an unidentified hospital in Westchester.

Grimm has long been an avid horseman, frequently posting on social media about his time at the stables and playing polo.

Of the thousands of donations received, several are large contributions. Two accounts contributed $10,000 each and many $5,000 donations were listed on GoFundMe.

At the time of writing, $493,015 has been raised – 20% of the $2.5 million goal.

It appears that comments have been disabled on the GoFundMe page after hateful comments started mixing in with well-wishes.

According to GoFundMe and Ignizio, some high-profile donors include:

• Lois and Richard Nicotra — owners of the Nicotra Group, which also includes the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites in Bloomfield.
• SSG Michael Ollis Freedom Foundation
• Rep. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R – Staten Island/South Brooklyn)
• Congressman Reo Michael Lawler (R – Hudson Valley)
• State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D – North Shore/South Brooklyn)
• Assemblyman Michael Tannousis (R – East Shore/South Brooklyn)
• Former New York City Councilman Domenic Recchia — Recchia faced Grimm as a Democratic challenger during his tenure, but was ultimately unelected.
• Former Long Island Congressman Peter King (R)
• Former City Council President Corey Johnson (D)

Grimm represented Staten Island in the House of Representatives from 2010 until January 2015, when he resigned after a 2014 federal indictment related to fraudulent practices at an Upper East Side health food restaurant partly owned by Grimm.

The former congressman eventually pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion and served seven months in prison before being released in 2016.

Grimm tried a return of Congress in 2018, but lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who ultimately lost to former Democratic Rep. Max Rose that year.