Ben Bader’s pals have banded together to raise money to cover the cost of a Miami celebration of life following his death at 25.
One day after the Florida-based influencer’s death was announced on Monday, October 27, two of his closest friends launched a GoFundMe “in honor of our beloved best friend Ben Bader” to raise money for memorial costs, as well as to continue his legacy.
The organizers of the fundraiser, Jimmy Farley and Phillip Karcz, announced the donation page on their social media accounts and have contributed a combined total of $25,000 toward the cause, Us Weekly has learned.
“The money raised from this GoFundMe will go directly and only towards assistance in his Miami memorial costs/services, supporting the people he covered financially, amplifying the amazing message he stood for online via his clipping campaign on Whop and donating to charitable funds that he hoped to support one day,” the fundraiser’s page read.
“This is all just to continue the legacy that Ben Bader truly deserves,” their message continued.
Farley and Karcz noted that Bader’s family “is in support” of the GoFundMe, but have “requested to cover their own costs and will not be taking from any of the proceeds given here” for his funeral.
Us reached out to Farley and Karcz for comment.
Over $67,000 has been raised since the GoFundMe was created on Tuesday, October 28. The fundraiser’s goal is $100,000.
Bader died on Thursday, October 23, with his girlfriend, Reem, and his family addressing his “extremely sudden” death.
“Ben was the kindest, most caring, most generous person I have ever met in my entire life,” Reem shared on TikTok. “He genuinely loved every single person that he met and he was so positive all the time.”
She said his death came out of nowhere.
“There were really no signs of this happening — we were supposed to get dinner that night and he seemed so normal. I had just talked to him on FaceTime a couple hours before he passed and he was so happy and so normal and he was just smiling and being so funny,” she shared.
The Upham and Bader family called him a “visionary who led with love, lived with intention and turned his passions into helping others.”
The online community is honoring the lives of several social media influencers who died in 2025. On April 1, nursing influencer Hailey Okula died at age 33 after giving birth to her first child. Husband Matthew Okula shared that his wife died from amniotic fluid embolism and was able to briefly meet their baby before […]
“He made a profound impact on everyone who knew him through his wisdom, humor and compassion,” his loved ones told People. “Ben lived each day to the fullest, inspiring those around him to seek meaning, connection and purpose in their own lives.”
“Though our hearts are broken, we will carry on Ben’s legacy in everything we do,” they concluded. “We will keep his memory alive by leading with love, living with purpose and carrying forward his passions that made the world brighter.”
Farley and Karcz, along with several of the influencer’s friends, also paid tribute.
“You’re the best friend anyone could’ve ever asked for and I will forever thank God that I was lucky enough to be one of them. The boys and I will be honoring your name and looking out for the fam until the day we join you too my brother,” Farely posted.
Karcz said he was at the hospital when he learned Bader did not pull through.
“Yesterday at 8:30 pm while i sat in the er waiting room not sure what was going on with you, i was broken the news that you had passed. instantly tears came and i couldn’t believe it. i still can’t,” he wrote via X on October 24.
“Ben was the most impactful person i’ve ever met. he somehow played the role of a father, older brother, best friend, and mentor to me. anytime i had a problem, i would go to him for advice,” Karcz added.
Sharing how close their bond was, he continued, “We did everything together. we were even planning to live with each other. he was the one person i could never get sick of hanging out with. now i sit with your immediate family, who i met for the first time, and we are all in shock.”
Bader’s cause of death is not yet known, with the coroner confirming to Us that it’s under investigation pending toxicology reports.
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