Fundraiser for Jessi Pierce’s husband surpasses $200K after NHL reporter and kids die in house fire
WHITE BEAR LAKE, MINNESOTA: A fundraising effort for the husband of late NHL reporter Jessi Pierce has surpassed $200,000, as the sports community continues to mourn the tragic deaths of Pierce and her three children in a house fire in Minnesota.
Pierce, 37, and her children, Hudson, Cayden, and Avery, as well as their pet dog, were declared dead after a fire engulfed their home in White Bear Lake in the early hours of Saturday. The incident has left her husband, Mike Hinrichs, grieving the loss of his wife, their children, and their family dog.
GoFundme launched to support husband
A GoFundMe has been setup to support him during this "unimaginably difficult time," with the funds going towards "covering funeral expenses" and "providing financial support... during this period of grief."
At the time of writing, the page had attracted 2,000 donations totaling around $203,405 raised of its $250,000 target.
Among those to make the biggest contributions are Pierce's local NHL team, the Minnesota Wild ($10,000), the Columbus Blue Jackets hockey team ($10,000), the NHL Players' Association ($5,000), staff at NHL.com ($2,235), and the Professional Hockey Writers Association ($1,000).
The GoFundMe included a tribute to Pierce, which read, "Jessi had a larger-than-life personality and an even bigger heart."
"She was devoted to her family, going above and beyond to create many moments of joy and everlasting memories," it added.
"The children, each with their own unique personalities, shared Jessi's zest for life and love for adventure. They leave behind Mike, husband to Jessi and loving father of their children, who is now experiencing an unimaginably difficult time," the fundraiser page added.
Investigators weigh in on tragedy that claimed the lives of Pierce and her kids
Investigators think that the terrible house fire that killed Pierce and her three kids, Hudson, 8, Cayden, 6, and Avery, 4, was not started on purpose.
After getting a 911 call from neighbors who saw flames coming through the roof and thought there were people inside, the White Bear Lake Fire Department found a "fully involved structure fire."
The Minnesota Star Tribune says that investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire, but early reports suggest that it was not set on purpose.
"Our priorities are, first and foremost, being present for those directly affected by this tragedy, conducting a thorough investigation, and ensuring our first responders involved in this incident heal alongside the community," the Fire Department said.
Pierce had built a career covering hockey and was widely known within NHL circles. Her death, along with those of her children, has prompted an outpouring of support from across the sports community.
