High-profile community figures donate to help former Rep. Michael ...

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Over 5,200 people have donated to a GoFundMe dedicated to former GOP Rep. Michael Grimm who was paralyzed after a horse-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 be able to walk again. Staten Islanders and all New Yorkers have 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 said to the Advance.

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

He revealed that Grimm cannot walk due to his horse reportedly throwing him off while he was playing polo.

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

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

Of the thousands of donations received, multiple are big-money contributions. Two accounts contributed $10,000 each and many $5,000 bestowments were listed on the GoFundMe.

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

It appears that comments were turned off on the GoFundMe page after hate comments began to intermingle with well wishes.

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

Lois and Richard Nicotra — the owners of the Nicotra Group, which also includes the Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton Inn & Suites in Bloomfield.SSG Michael Ollis Freedom FoundationCongressional Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R – Staten Island/South Brooklyn)Congressional Reo Michael Lawler (R – Hudson Valley)State Sen. 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 off against Grimm as a Democratic challenger during his tenure, but ultimately was not elected.Former Long Island Congressman Peter King (R)Former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson (D)

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

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

Grimm attempted a congressional comeback in 2018, but lost to incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Donovan, who ultimately lost to former Democratic Rep. Max Rose that year.