Dear friends,

I want to thank each of you deeply for your generosity in supporting the memorial panel for Matt at the Artists of the Wall festival in Rogers Park. Your contributions have meant so much.

You may notice that the fundraising goal has recently been raised from $500 to $1,000. I wanted to offer a bit of context: when we launched the campaign, I estimated the cost of the panel registration and painting. After being with and speaking with Sophia when I was home last month, we realised that additional costs—including more realistic artist fees—might arise, and we wanted to ensure everything was covered without stress or hesitation.

We don’t expect anyone to give more than they already have. Truly. If you’ve contributed, you’ve already made a meaningful impact. This adjustment allows space for those who may still want to give and to reflect the fuller picture of what it takes to make this kind of memorial possible.

The Artist of the Wall event takes place over Father’s Day weekend, and it feels like a fitting tribute for someone who lived so much of his life in Rogers Park. We’re hoping to secure a panel space in the coming days, and I’ll keep everyone posted on the progress and timing.

Thank you again for helping us honor Matt's memory with such warmth and community.

With gratitude,

Remembering Matthew at 50 – Rogers Park Artist Of The Wall Panel

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, this August would have marked Matthew’s 50th birthday. In honor of that milestone—and more importantly, in honor of Matthew’s life, his children, and the many people who loved him—In May I’m registering a memorial panel to be painted as part of the Rogers Park Artist Of The Wall for this year’s annual event over Father’s Day weekend (June 14-15th). More information on the Facebook Page: Remembering Matthew at 50.

With Sophia’s support, I’ve reached out to Matthew’s friends to come together and contribute toward this project. Our goal is to create a lasting piece of art that reflects who Matthew was to us, something his children can visit to remember him, especially throughout this milestone year.

We aim to raise $500 to cover the cost of the artist’s time and materials. Any funds raised will go directly toward the artist fee, paint, and installation. I’ll cover any additional costs, and if there’s anything left over, it will be passed on to Iris. This campaign is simply about giving everyone who cared about Matt a chance to be part of the process.

In addition to donations, I’d love for people to share any photos, images, or ideas they'd like to see incorporated into the design on the Facebook Page: Remembering Matthew at 50. After gathering everyone’s contributions, we will leave the final decision about the panel’s design to Iris, Jonas, Micah, and Lucas, giving them the space and autonomy to decide how they want their father remembered.

Whether you can contribute financially to the panel, share a memory, or help spread the word, your support would mean so much.

Thank you for helping us create something meaningful for Matthew and his family.

With gratitude,

Antoine