HI EVERYONE! HERE IS AN IMPORTANT NOTE FROM BERT!  (and an invitation!)

Dear friends, the painting project is finished! What you have given to me is a gift beyond measure. I feel wrapped in love—quite literally!
     You're invited to come see it in person (in Altadena) on Sunday, July 28 between 4pm and 6pm (hopefully the heat will be diminishing a bit by that time).  Please let me know if you plan to stop by —we want to make sure we have plenty of food for ya’all  (RSVP at [email redacted]).  If you are in town, I would love to see you!   Either way, please accept my thank you that is beyond words!!  (Click "Read more" for pictures)

UPDATE (5/20/19; 11:25 am): THANK YOU! THE GOAL IS REACHED! I will present Bert with a check for $15,014.00 with much gratitude to the 116 people who helped make this possible. I know Bert will want to thank each of you. Please also accept my personal thanks for helping make this happen for Bert at this challenging time in her life. Your continued prayers for her will be most appreciated.

As promised, this fundraising page will no longer accept donations. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution for Bert can still do so by contacting her directly: Bert Jacklitch; Director of Alumni Relations; Box ALUM; 493 E. Walnut St.; Pasadena, CA 91101   

Thank you again!
With gratitude,
Jeff Bjorck
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Bert Jacklitch suddenly lost her husband, Jim, two months ago on March 7. Of course, this has been a huge loss to Bert, her children, and grandchildren, but they are all moving forward with courage and faith. People have asked how they might show support to Bert at this difficult time, and this fundraiser addresses that question. As most of you know, I am a friend and co-worker of Bert’s for 29 years, and I am asking for your help. 

Jim Jacklitch had planned to paint their home, garage, and backhouse for some time, but extenuating factors delayed this, and painting is badly needed now. On top of all the challenges Bert is facing, this necessary expense is a truly significant added burden. Thankfully, a fine painter who Bert knows is giving her a significant discount, but the estimated cost is still $15,000.00, partly because this project will involve extensive sanding, patching, and lead paint removal. This work needs to start soon.

Online donations will be deposited (minus 2.9% and 30 cents per transaction, which goes to Gofundme) to my personal checking account. I will then present Bert the full amount raised from online donations, together with offline donations given directly to me, when I present her with the fundraiser total. Please know that 100% of the funds raised will be applied to Bert’s painting expenses, and fundraising will stop when the goal (after Gofundme expenses) is reached.

Bert has been a great blessing to so many of us over the years, and now it is our turn to show her our support. Would you please consider a generous gift to help her meet this pressing need? In addition, please share this GoFundMe page with anyone you know who might want to help Bert.

On a final note, please know that I had to work hard to persuade Bert to let me create this fundraiser. She has always lived her life with the admirable desire to never be a burden to others, and while I fully respect that, I am glad that she finally agreed to give us the chance to support her, as she has supported so many of us. This is truly a time of legitimate need. Thank you for helping!
With gratitude,

Dr. Jeff Bjorck
Professor of Psychology
Fuller Seminary School of Psychology
https://www.fuller.edu/faculty/jeffrey-p-bjorck/


UPDATE (5/9/19; 8:55 pm): Thanks for the generous support that has already come in. We are almost half-way to the goal! Please share with anyone who cares about Bert. Getting this word out truly is a grassroots effort, and we will need quite a few more people to help us reach the goal.

I also wanted you to know that, true to form, Bert has not been looking at this feed because she still feels somewhat uncomfortable that she is presenting a potential "burden."  Thus, I have not told her the amounts, but I have shared the beautiful comments you have offered thus far, which have greatly encouraged her.  I have suggested to her that she wait to send her thanks when this fundraiser is complete, and I am sure she will thank each of you then. As you can understand, this is a bit overwhelming for her, but I am so glad to see so many showing their support for this dear person! Thank you!

With gratitude,
Jeff Bjorck
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UPDATE (5/13/19; 1:44 pm): We are closing in on the goal! Today, I got the chance to record several very generous offline donations, which are gifts that I forward on to Bert or gifts that Bert tells me have come directly to her, designated for this painting project (e.g., from persons who don’t use computers, etc.). Please continue to share this fundraiser with anyone who cares about Bert, and I think we can reach this goal!

In other news, Bert finally took the plunge and looked at her page, and she was quite overwhelmed with gratitude by your gifts as well as your wonderful comments. She will start writing notes of thanks to each of you now, and thankfully, this will take a while due the fact that so many of you have helped!
With gratitude,
Jeff Bjorck
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UPDATE (5/17/19; 12:39 pm): Almost there! We are rapidly closing in on the goal of $15000.00. In addition, anonymous donors have volunteered to cover all the expenses incurred from GoFundMe, so 100% of each of your gifts will go to Bert. Thank you so much for your generosity and kindness! We have less than $936.00 to go!

When we meet the goal, this fundraising page will be closed. Anyone who wishes to contribute after that can do so by contacting Bert directly. I will also gladly forward any checks sent to me that are made out to Bert Jacklitch.

With gratitude,
Jeff Bjorck