Rebel Against Injustice: A Family Legacy Under Fire

Rebel Girl Floral is organizing this fundraiser.

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Short Summary:

"Our family’s floral studio was destroyed in a fire. Despite paying for insurance, the company denied our claim, leaving us with nothing. We’re fighting to rebuild our sanctuary, continue our mission, and hold the insurance company accountable. With your help, we can rise from the ashes and keep creating beauty and justice in our community."

The Story:

A Legacy Lost in the Flames

On January 3rd, a fire stole everything from us. Flames devoured our floral studio—a sanctuary built on generations of grit, love, and resilience. Decades of memories, tools, and irreplaceable treasures were reduced to ashes. Today, the smoldering remains are a haunting reminder of what we’ve lost.

But the fire wasn’t the only blow. The insurance company we trusted to protect us turned their backs. Despite knowing our studio was a business, they sold us a policy designed to fail—a policy they knew would never cover us. When we needed them most, they exploited loopholes to deny our claim, leaving us stranded.

This isn’t just negligence—it’s exploitation.

A Legacy Rooted in Family and Flowers

Twenty-five years ago, my father transformed an old horse barn into a floral studio—a labor of love for my mother, Bonnie, a florist of over 40 years. This studio became her sanctuary, a place where she poured her heart into crafting beauty for our community. It was more than a workspace; it was a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of small dreams nurtured with care.

In 2019, my wife Sothea, a Cambodian refugee and fierce advocate for bringing beauty into hard places, and I took up that legacy. We rebirthed the studio as Rebel Girl Floral, honoring my mother’s craft while weaving Sothea’s heritage and vision into every arrangement. Together, we turned this family space into a haven for healing, celebration, and connection.

The Impact:

A System Rigged Against Us

As a minority-owned business, we know too well the systemic barriers faced by entrepreneurs like Sothea. Now, we’re living that injustice. This isn’t just our story—it’s about every family crushed by corporate greed, every refugee told their resilience isn’t enough, and every marginalized voice silenced by a system rigged to protect the powerful.

They thought we’d stay silent. They were wrong.

Our Fight and Your Role:

We choose to fight back—not just for ourselves, but for every small business betrayed by a system that prioritizes profit over people. Insurance companies bank on us giving up. They rely on our exhaustion, our fear, and our silence.

We refuse to let them win. But we need your help.

With Your Support, We Will:

Rebuild Our Sanctuary: Clear the ashes of our beloved barn and create a new space where beauty and resistance bloom side by side.
Continue Our Mission: Ensure Rebel Girl Floral remains a beacon of hope and resilience, offering flowers as a source of healing, joy, and defiance in a world that too often prioritizes profit over humanity.
Fund the Fight for Justice: Challenge the insurance company’s discrimination and negligence, holding them accountable for their actions.

A Personal Plea from Sothea:

“As a Cambodian woman, I’ve fought my entire life to be seen and heard. This studio was my chance to prove that ‘different’ is not a weakness—it’s a superpower. When the insurance company denied us, it felt like another door slamming shut. But with your help, we’ll kick it open again.”

Our Promise:

We will rebuild this studio with Cambodian resilience and Midwestern stubbornness. We’ll fill it with flowers grown from Sothea’s unbreakable spirit and Bonnie’s legacy. And when the next family is cheated, exploited, or left in ashes?

They’ll know where to find the REBELS.

A Message to American Family Insurance Company:

You thought we’d disappear quietly. You thought paperwork and fine print could erase 25 years of heart and hard work. You were wrong. This community is stronger than your greed.

Thank You for Being the Light in This Darkness

To our friends, family, and supporters: Your love has been our lifeline. You’ve shown us that community is the antidote to corporate cruelty. Together, we’ll rebuild—not just a studio, but a legacy and a minority-owned dream that refuses to be erased.