On November 8th, the always feared but never fully comprehendible happened.  My little sleepy childhood hometown of less than 30,000 was reduced to ashes in mere hours.  Paradise, California is where I grew up.  It's where I went to school from my Elementary days through our one and only Paradise High School.  This is where I held my first job, learned to drive, spent summers during college and where I made life-long friendships that are extremely important to me to this day.

Over the past few days I've been stunned; not just at the harrowing stories of escapes but at the calls, texts, and Face Book posts of some of my dearest and oldest friends as they grapple with the devastating loss of everything they owned.  Their homes; their parent's homes where I had study sessions and sleep overs throughout my childhood -- all gone.  Their family businesses and livelihoods erased without warning. At the height of the fire is was moving at a rate of 80 football fields a minute. No one had time to prepare.

Anyone who knows me knows how much I value relationships and friendships.  I have felt at a loss as to how to begin to help those I love being thousands of miles away.  I am starting this funding page as a personal request to my friends to help me ease the suffering of those I love. My individual contribution won't really be a drop in the bucket but if you all are willing to help me by making any donation, I can share that love and generosity with my friends and family in Northern California who are literally just trying to survive and cope in these next weeks.  100% of your donation will go to a personal friend of mine or their family who has been impacted by this tragedy.  Yes, at some point insurance for most will kick in but that will not help many of these people in the short-term.

There is no donation too small and your contribution will be so very much appreciated by me, personally.  I thank you in advance and appreciate each of you and your friendship.