$100K Raised To Help Diane Tran, Jailed Texas HS Student

The donations were solicited through www.helpdianetran.com, a project led by the Louisiana Children's Education Alliance, a nonprofit organization.

As of 6 p.m. EDT Wednesday, $98,345 has been raised from 49 U.S. states and 18 foreign countries, according to the website.

Tran's story sparked widespread interest because many thought she was treated unfairly.

Last week, the Texas honors student was sentenced in open court, jailed for one night and fined $100 for repeated truancy, according to KHOU.com. The judge who sentenced her said he already warned her last month to stop missing school.

He also admitted that he wanted to make an example out of Tran by jailing her.

If you let one (truant student) run loose, what are you gonna do with the rest of 'em? Let them go too? he said.

Tran admits her truancy, but blames it on the burdens placed her after her parents divorced and moved out of town.

She says she now works a full-time job and a part-time job to support an older brother who attends college and a younger sister who lives with relatives in Houston. She currently lives with the family of one of her employers.

The teen says she is often too exhausted to get to school on time and sometimes arrives after attendance has already been taken.

She goes from job to job, from school she stays up 'til 7 o'clock in the morning, said her co-worker and classmate Devin Hill.

When Tran's story gained national attention last week, social media platforms were flooded with sympathetic outpourings for her and contempt for the judge who sentenced her.

Lock up Diane Tran for being poor and trying to feed her family. Call it truancy. Call it 'an example.' Call it the law. Call it discipline, tweeted @SirJoshBennett.

Now, many are urging donations to her cause.

Please help Diane Tran, a 17-year-old girl the State of Texas should be grateful to have. http://helpdianetran.com/, tweeted @GaiusHelviusCin.