Hi,

If you don’t know me personally, my name is Vincent Jamal Hooper; current Simba in The Lion King on Broadway. As of last night, I lost my beloved apartment to a five-alarm fire in my building in Washington Heights.

I discovered the tragic situation as I approached my building after finishing work on Saturday night. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

There is so much to sort out at the moment and I haven’t yet had the chance to properly assess the scale of the damage but, from what I was able to see, it’s safe to say I won’t be able to live in that apartment for the foreseeable future.

I’m fortunate that this devastating event finds me employed but, despite that & due to the assumed degree of loss, I am asking for any assistance you can manage. In all honesty, I’m not even sure exactly how much financial support is ultimately required to address what’s happened (the fundraising total listed is just a blind guess).

This is an unprecedented moment for me and setback that requires me to effectively start over; I’m seeking help in that process and this fundraiser is just one of many resources I’m attempting to utilize in that effort.

I appreciate any and all support; whether that be helping spread the word or supplying a donation.