Help Anthony Rebuild His Life
Hi, my name is Grace and I'm raising money for my brother, Anthony Fama. The pandemic has been difficult for many of us, but it has been undoubtedly traumatic for those who have lost. My brother is one who has lost, and while "things are opening back up", he is one of many who is still struggling to survive.
Before the pandemic, Anthony was building a career in the music and entertainment industry. He was working as a lighting technician for major concerts and events throughout the Phoenix area. He was also building his own lighting business, working with smaller venues and local bands. He was working hard, proud of his work, and finally felt that he had found a career that suited him.
He was also newly married. He and his wife met in Phoenix, while she was in the US for a short time on a tourist visa. Their love continued to grow, despite the distance between them. After a couple of years, they were married and starting the long, complicated US immigration process. His wife was unable to move to the US throughout this process; at the time they married the Trump administration's immigration policies were in full effect and immigration courts were completely overwhelmed.
By the time COVID-19 emerged in November 2019, their relationship was strained from the distance, the uncertainty, and the financial realities of building careers. By March 2020, the entertainment business shut down. Initially, Anthony was able to receive unemployment along with the additional federal benefits. He finally had some extra cash and time, but now he couldn't travel to see his wife due to travel restrictions.
Over the course of the pandemic, his life unraveled. Ticketmaster or LiveNation bought out the event production company he contacted through, and claimed him and many others as active employees. He never received a paycheck from them, but this resulted in him becoming ineligible for unemployment. His marriage fell apart, and he and his wife divorced. His mental health was deteriorating, and he was struggling to survive.
Over the past several months, Anthony has been working HARD to rebuild his life. Harder than I've ever had to work at it, that's for sure. He's learning how to manage his ADHD brain (while he was diagnosed as a child, it has gone untreated as an adult). He's developing coping mechanisms, meditating, journaling, walking, making daily goals. He is doing the work to get back on track.
And that brings us to today. Things are opening back up. Bands are on tour, big events are being scheduled. And Anthony is ready to get back to work. The transmission on his van just died. And of course, it would cost more to fix the transmission than the car is worth. Anthony lives close to the light rail, but unfortunately the route is limited. While he could get to some venues, he can't count on the light rail to take him home as many of these gigs extend beyond the operating hours.
So here's my ask. That safety net that is supposed to be there for all of us? It's not there. So I am asking my community, can you help me help my brother? We all deserve love, dignity, and respect. And lately, that's been in short supply for Anthony. He needs love and support, but he also needs reliable transportation and money for utilities and rent. I believe in him, and sincerely hope that with a community of support he can overcome these hurdles.
Thank you