Fund Created To Help Man Whose Husband Died In NYC Apartment Fire

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On Sunday, 27-year old Daniel McClung died while trying to escape a fire in his New York City apartment building. Although the fire — which officials now say was sparked by a faulty extension cord — engulfed a twentieth floor apartment, McClung (image, left) and his husband, Michael Todd Cohen, were caught in the smoke all the way on the 31st floor, as they tried to exit via a stairwell.

The couple were newlyweds, having married in July. Cohen, 32, a TV producer, is in the hospital, and now in stable condition. They had just bought and over into a condo in The Strand, on West 43rd Street in Hell’s Kitchen.

Jenni Powell, who told The New Civil Rights Movement via email that she knows Michael through her work in the digital media community and the International Academy of Web Television, has set up a fund to help Cohen with the enormous expenses he will be facing, and to help him know that his community mourns with and supports him.

“I have set up this campaign on behalf of the International Academy of Web Television and the entire web community as a whole,” Powell writes on the FundAnything page. “We pride ourselves on trying to build our community on a foundation of support and while often we spend time celebrating our successes…we are now facing a tragedy that effected one of our own and we again want to offer support.”

“Please give as much or as little as you would like. And please share this campaign on Facebook, Twitter, and your friends and family so they can help if they would like as well. Our hope is to rain love and support down on Michael in this difficult and sad time.”

Our thoughts are with Michael Cohen, and the couple’s family and friends.

If you can help, or to learn more, you can visit the For Michael Todd Cohen FundAnything page.

 

Image of Daniel McClung and Michael Cohen via Michael Cohen’s Facebook page