NEW: Couple From Gorge Marriage Proposal Raises Money for Charity

Friday, December 05, 2014

Taya Alami, GoLocalPDX Reporter

A Camas, Wash. couple is asking for donations to support charity work they plan to do during their honeymoom, since their candid engagement photo went viral over the weekend.

The photo was taken by a Munra Point hiker in Columbia Gorge. The photo shows a coupe in the distance, one of the individuals down on one knee.

The photographer shared on social media sites including Reddit and facebook in hopes of tracking down the two strangers and giving the photo to them as a gift.

“I have no idea who these folks are, but would like them to have this photograph,” photographer Paul Wolfe stated online. “If you know someone who got engaged on Munra Point in the Columbia River Gorge the afternoon of 11/27/2014, please direct them to this picture. Thanks!”

Hundreds of people responded to the posts online over the weekend. Earlier this week, the couple was identified by their best man, Wolfe stated online.

The couple, Al Gensitskiy and Katie Verkovod of Camas, Wash., said they plan to use their honeymoon to do charity work. Gensitskiy registered for an account on gofundme.com Dec. 5 to fund the trip. They plan to elope in July before traveling to countries in Southeast Asia, the couple stated on their gofundme.com page.

“One thing that we are really hoping to do while there is to add value to other people's lives as they add to ours,” the couple stated. “We're hoping to partner with indigenous non-profits in those countries who focus on community development, by volunteering our time and donating to their efforts.”

Wolfe thanked the social media community for finding the couple.

“We provided an incredible memory to a couple, who fortunately, are totally deserving of it,” Wolfe stated.

As of Noon Dec. 5, the couple had raised $200 of their $10,000 goal.