NY charity Robin Hood receives undue flak from people angry at Robinhood trading app, finds 'silver lining' in new supporters

Wes Moore has spent some time patiently explaining online how the charity he heads has nothing to do with a certain stock trading app now hated by many. But there is a happy ending to this case of mistaken identity.

The Robin Hood Foundation has a proud history of fighting poverty in New York City for more than three decades. Recently, however, it found itself on the receiving end of public ire for no good reason at all. The name of the legendary folk hero who robbed the rich and gave to the poor has had some really bad publicity this week.

The anger was actually directed at Robinhood app, which landed in hot water amid the GameStop craze. The commission-free app was the main way for members of Reddit’s WallStreetBets forum to buy into GameStop stock.

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Large short sellers gambled that those stocks would tank, but small-dollar investors using the platform disagreed and bought into them en masse, pushing the price up instead. The ban was widely perceived as blatant manipulation of the market, aimed at protecting large hedge funds from suffering financial loss.

Both the charity and its CEO Wes Moore had to explain to people online that, despite the name similarity, they have nothing to do with the much-loathed app.

It looks like you put a lot of work into this, so I’m sorry to let you know I’m not the CEO of the @RobinhoodApp. I run @RobinHoodNYC, one of the largest anti-poverty nonprofits in the country. We’re completely unaffiliated. https://t.co/66ZE9GQsRP

— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) January 28, 2021

Can you correct this? I never said this, because I’m not the CEO of the investment app.

I’m the CEO of @RobinHoodNYC, one of the largest antipoverty nonprofits in the U.S. https://t.co/lFD4S2unW0

— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) January 29, 2021

Before you continue to harass me on here, someone should tell you I’m the CEO of the antipoverty nonprofit @robinhoodnyc. It has nothing to do with the @RobinhoodApp ... https://t.co/FCwaG11pAp

— Wes Moore (@iamwesmoore) January 28, 2021

It appears that in this case, things turned out for good. The charity said that thanks to the confusion it has "a new wave of supporters" for the cause, which hopefully means it will be able to help more New Yorkers struggling to put food on their tables.

The silver lining of the name confusion is that we get to welcome a new wave of supporters to Robin Hood. Thank you. Your generosity is helping New Yorkers who need us most as we navigate the road to our city’s recovery.

— Robin Hood (@RobinHoodNYC) January 30, 2021

The charity is not the only organization to have received increased public attention amid the stock market controversy. The World Wide Robin Hood Society – dedicated to the legacy of the Sherwood highwayman – welcomed many new followers, too. Those turning to them to buy stocks, though, may not like what they have to offer.

To be clear, this is the closest we've come to selling stocks! pic.twitter.com/2NJ84h4aHW

— Robin Hood (@robinhood) January 29, 2021

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