Hi, my name is Jojo. I started this appeal on my 50th BIrthday.

I wish I were celebrating this milestone feeling fully like myself—but instead, I’m facing something I never expected: the loss of my smile, and with it, a piece of my confidence.

Turning 50 has me reflecting on everything I’ve made it through: surviving a divorce, the pandemic, co-parenting and raising two beautiful children, losing my mother and a close cousin, and navigating a new career and partnerships. My dentist recently shared that stress doesn’t just affect mental health—it can show up in the body. And for me, it has shown up in my teeth. I’ve been wearing partial dentures and even lost another tooth last summer.

As an actor and communications manager, my voice and presence are central to everything I do. Losing my smile has shaken my confidence, affecting both my work and my sense of self. What many people take for granted—laughing freely, speaking without hesitation, enjoying a meal—has become a daily challenge.

Dental professionals have told me that dental implant surgery is the best path forward. The cost is up to $30,000—about $15,000 per jaw—which I cannot cover on my own. I already carry debt, including student loans, and cannot take on more responsibly.

That’s why I’m turning to you—my friends, family, fellow theatre artists, and colleagues—for help. Many of you know me: we’ve shared stages, worked behind the scenes, and supported one another as friends and collaborators. You know I show up for others—and now I’m asking for support that I cannot give myself.

If each of you could donate $20, it would help fund one row of teeth. $40 could help restore my full smile.

My goal is 750 donations of $40 to reach the $30,000 needed for this surgery.

This is about more than teeth—it’s about reclaiming my health, my confidence, and my ability to keep showing up fully for my work, my children, and my community. Any support, whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this campaign, would mean the world to me.

With humility and gratitude,

Jose “Jojo” Abaoag