HOLLAND, MI -- A West Michigan manufacturer specializing in basement wall repair products is a top donor of nationwide crowdfunding efforts to build the “Trump Wall.”

The $12,000 donation from Holland-based Fortress Stabilization Systems is the second-highest donation as of early Friday afternoon, Dec. 21. The highest is a $50,000 anonymous donation.

The company’s owner, Ed Wheatley, said he made the donation to support President Donald Trump’s efforts to keep the country safe.

"I believe in having a safe country,” Wheatley said. “I have grandchildren that I’m worried about, and I think it’s important to keep the country safe. We need to know who is coming in.”

Wheatley added that it’s important the wall have a figurative door so that people can immigrate legally and orderly -- “the way all other immigrants came to America," he said, citing Ellis Island.

More than $12 million has been raised since the GoFundMe campaign began Sunday, Dec. 16. The campaign to secure funding for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall has a $1 billion goal and promises a refund if efforts fall short of that.

Wheatley’s company at 184 W. 64th St. has been in business for 20 years manufacturing carbon fiber systems to reinforce damaged home foundations.

Sometime last year the company adopted a tagline of “Make your wall great again” as a wink to the president’s own campaign slogan. Wheatley said his sales teams’ slogan-embroidered red hats are a big hit at trade shows.

With a manufacturing force of 10 employees and a focus on repairs and not construction, Wheatley said he doesn’t expect any work contracts on the proposed wall in return for his support.

“We don’t do anything to that scale, and in no way could we even handle 100 yards of that wall,” he laughed.

Wheatley called on other businesses to join the crowdfunding effort, as Trump’s current $5 billion request in federal funding for the border wall remains up in the air.

“The way I look at it, I think it would be really nice if other businesses picked up what we’re doing, because I think Congress isn’t doing anything,” he said. “I don’t see Congress getting this funded.”

So far, the feedback to the donation has been largely positive. It’s something Wheatley worried about before he pushed “donate.”

“Honestly, I was a little nervous what reaction I’d get, because it’s such a polarizing thing,” he said. “I’m actually amazed at the reactions we've been getting. It kind of blew up a bit.”

The company’s review listing on Google has fluctuated up and down since the donation. It’s mostly the work of people who have never heard of his products before, Wheatley said.

“It’s like we’re either getting five stars or one star,” he said. “I want to be reviewed for the products we produce, not for some political donation.”