Bullied Bus Monitor Says She Isn't Retiring Because of Bullies
July 28, 2012— -- An upstate New York bus monitor made famous by a viral YouTube video in which she was bullied by middle school boys says she plans to retire.
The announcement comes just one week after a donation effort padded the bus monitor's pockets with an extra $700,000.
"I'm not quitting because of what happened. That's not it," Karen Klein, the 68-year-old bus monitor, told The Associated Press. "I enjoyed working with the kids. But I guess it's my time to leave. That's what I've decided."
In the video, Klein is shown sitting on a school bus as teen boys hurl insults at her for 10 minutes, making her cry. The video has been reposted so many times it's impossible to tell how many times it's been viewed, but commenters generally agree that the boys' behavior is unacceptable.
But it was Max Sidorov who was moved to start a fundraiser on Indiegogo.com.
The 25-year-old Canadian called the campaign, "Lets Give Karen – the bus monitor – H Klein a Vacation!" Although Sidorov's goal was to raise $5,000 by mid-July, the site drew in $703,833 from 30,000 donors in all 50 states and more than 84 countries, according to the AP.
"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 told the AP. "It just shows there are so many great people in the world. It warms my heart to see that."
Klein wants to donate some of her donation money to Mary Cariola Children's Center and School of the Holy Childhood, she told WHAM-TV, ABC's affiliate in Rochester.
Four bullies from the Greece, N.Y., Central School District outside Rochester have been suspended for one year, which they will complete at the district's Reengagement Center. They are also each required to complete 50 hours of community service with senior citizens and enroll in a bullying prevention program.
Local police told ABCNews.com in June that the boys' families had received threatening messages as well.
Two of the boys spoke out to apologize for what they did to Klein.
"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."
