In Memory of Eric Kepford
Donation protected
When you are in the process of becoming a teacher, there are so many courses that you’d expect, “The Basics of Writing Good Curriculum That Attempts Not to Bore Your Students” and “Herding Cats 101”, for instance.
Joking aside, there are even courses that are a bit more serious that help prepare you for the invisible and somber side of teaching such as managing IEP cases and how to navigate the possibility that you may have to one day report suspected abuse of a student.
But never in the 2 years it took to pursue both my credentialing degree and my Master’s Degree in Secondary Education did they ever teach us how to lose a student.
It is a lesson that many before me have had to learn on their own and many after but I can’t begin to tell you what that learning curve will do to you, both professionally and personally.
The call came on the first Sunday morning of 2021, the day before we were to resume (virtual) school following our holiday break.
I was jogging around my neighborhood, trying to work off some Christmas cookies when my phone rang pretty early… around 8ishhhhhh.
All of my Graphic Design 2 students have me on lockdown; they know I will do anything to help them succeed, even on the evenings and weekends.
By now they’ve probably had me for 1-2 years and we are really close so to see Eric calling me on a Sunday morning this early, I picked up and laughed, “Dude, what are you doing calling me this early on a Sunday morning???”
I heard sobbing, a mix of wailing and moaning, and I knew in that moment that something was horribly and irrevocably wrong.
Eric’s mother, Jessica, began to tell me that Eric was in ICU as over the weekend he had suffered from an inexplicable aneurysm and was in a coma.
The details of that whole conversation, the week after while waiting for a miracle, his passing, and - to be honest- the weeks that followed are something of a blur to me now but the bottom line is that Jessica had to make a decision that no mother should have to make: continue to hold on and pray for a miracle or believe the opinions and signs that his organs were indeed shutting down and allow the doctors to take him off of life support.
I had only met Jessica once over the course of Eric’s high school journey but from that moment on, I really believe that Eric brought us together for a reason. Looking back as to why his family would reach out to me and allow me to be an integrated part of his passing is a bit of a mystery other than Jessica stated I was Eric’s favorite teacher and the one that showed him who he was but I think it is because I am a remnant of who Eric was- we were both artists, designers, pacifists, nature lovers, hikers, and we both believed that love was the only answer to all of the world’s problems.
I am so honored to have become friends with this family, so honored to be allowed access to talk to Eric on the phone before his passing in hopes that my joking would startle him out of the coma he was in, honored to be able to go to the hospital to visit the family even if I couldn’t go into ICU to see Eric, honored to be asked to write a eulogy that was spoken over his body while the doctors removed his organs which saved 2 little ones’ lives, honored to be employed by a school who stepped up - generous staff, students and parents- to donate money and meals to Jessica and his little sister while they grieved, honored to be able to text Jessica on a weekly basis to check on her while she shares her healing process and details of Eric’s memorial and eventual celebration of life.
And that is where this part of the story begins.
Recently an adventurer friend of mine shared with me the opportunity to go this summer to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with a group of fellow school friends as he knows I have the heart of a traveler and am in love with humanity.
Being a teacher - a single mother living in the state of California at that- doesn’t afford me the chance to travel unless it is for work, or if it is school-led travel trips and this opportunity did not fall under either category but there was something about this trip.
In my spirit, I felt that I would be going and for a bigger reason than amazing Instagram posts.
Despite not knowing how in the world I was going to do it, I put down a non-refundable deposit and started purchasing the special hiking items needed when ascending a mountain such as Kilimanjaro (it is a bit of a challenge to say the least!)
Within that same week, I met up with Jessica to have lunch which we like to do as often as possible just to laugh and cry about Eric together.
She started showing me photos off of her phone of Eric and the last hike they took as a family.
It seemed serendipitous that the opportunity to be at the top of one of the highest mountains in the world came about the same time his mother shared with me so many photos of him on one of their family hikes.
Eric’s love for nature and hiking was well known by all of his friends and even the staff members at our school.
Jessica then shared with me that they were to receive Eric’s ashes soon.
As she was showing me images of the glass vase that his ashes would be placed in and all of the vials she would be giving to close family, and that she wanted to share a bit of him with me, that is when it hit e and I asked without thinking:
“Jessica, how would you and the family feel about letting me take Eric’s ashes to the top of Mt.Kilimanjaro which I will be hiking this summer?”
She started crying and said simply, “Eric would love that”.
And now it is my mission to be sure he gets there.
But the idea didn’t stop there.
There is more.
Eric had just been accepted to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in San Francisco shortly before passing away.
We had been working on his portfolio and application a few months prior and had a long talk about how amazing it was that he was pursuing his dreams of being able to create art, design & music; he had never thought it possible and almost didn’t apply.
When he was a freshman in my Graphic Design class, he showed interest and gave it his all but he still hadn’t “let me in”.
You see, he was really just adjusting to the school -not thrilled at all to be attending a school that wasn’t his choice- but was always well mannered, polite, and for sure had a creative side to him.
I was a bit surprised to see him in my Graphic Design 2 course, as I knew he was good but never knew he really loved design enough to put up with me another year… especially knowing my high expectations and demand for commitment.
Within the first project, I knew he had the “design bug”.
He was now a member of the “Cult of Fitchhorn”, or, as a previous student of mine called my design students, “Sons of a Fitchh”.
I asked him what he was doing after high school and if he had any plans and at that point he stated he would probably go into the field his father was employed in which was, honorably, a tradesman. I told him whatever he chose to do, do it with passion and purpose, but that he had a future in design and if he was interested, I would support him 1000% in pursuing that.
He never committed at that time, but as his talent , instincts, passion, and commitment grew, I could tell he was starting to believe in himself.
Senior year for Eric was the Covid year and although students had not returned on campus yet, in the fall of 2020 Eric asked to come see me in my class so I could help him apply to FIDM.
I cried, sooooo happy that he was believing in himself and following his dreams.
He shared with me that he was so scared and nervous, that he suffered from anxiety and it was causing him to doubt his path.
I shared with him my own fears and anxieties and how I knew that if I didn’t press through, I wouldn’t be where I was today.
I told him that it is better to try, fail, and get back up then to look back with regret that you didn’t even try.
He agreed and said he couldn’t imagine doing anything else in life.
Tragically, so many students do not even find their calling, let alone break through fear in order to pursue a dream and tragically, Eric’s dream of attending FIDM was cut short in the very beginning of 2021.
Eric didn’t get a chance to attend but I know for a FACT that he would, if he were still with us, not only attend but come back and share with my new design students everything he had been through, struggled with and overcame. I know for a FACT that Eric would “give back”.
That is who he was, in every way possible, as his friends and peers would tell you.
And, finally, I know for a FACT that he would want any student that was interested in art or design school and, due to the high cost of attending art/design schools, may not even try and attempt to go.
It is my intention with the remainder of the monies raised to create a scholarship in Eric’s name for any student who has applied for a design or art school and shows economic and/or artistic merit in these areas, as that is what Eric would want.
Your donations above and beyond the expenses of allowing me the privilege of taking Eric’s ashes to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro would go into a scholarship that will be created and maintained by our school’s very own SHIELD- a non-profit group that is a support group ran by parents who raise monies for the staff, students, and school in general. They are a passionate group of people who work endlessly to bridge gaps of funding, supplies, and sweat equity at our small school and who have shown nothing but support for ideas on how we can forever honor Eric on our campus as he is the epitome of a success story and a model for how we are writing our Charter update.
You see, not all students at our college-prep, charter high school are the straight A students who are headed off to State & University with a plan in hand, much to the misconception of many.
As a dependent charter school and a school of choice, many parents apply for the opportunity to be in a small school setting where we see the students for who they are, where they are, and help them to successfully be prepared for ANY path they may choose whether that be a trade school, junior college, or other.
Eric didn’t want to be at our school his first year, away from his friends that were attending other schools in the district and really struggled with even being there.
High expectations and high levels of teacher attention are hard to escape in a school of 500.
But he definitely made a lot of friends with his soft, quiet demeanor. He was easy going and polite and made friends with anyone from any “group” of students.
After Eric’s passing, so many students shared with me stories of how he always encouraged them and checked on them; he was always there for them when they needed someone to talk to. Teachers remarked how impressed they were with his journey from Freshman year to Senior year as he started showing more and more interest in his courses and became more and more grounded in our culture.
By his senior year not only did he find many friends that are now loyal to his memory, but he also found his calling, his passion, his purpose and broke through many strongholds to pursue what he wanted to do.
This scholarship is intended for THOSE students.
I can’t tell you how I am going to maintain this scholarship year after year and don’t even know the process! I am not sure whether to give it all away in one swoop or if I should divide it up over the course of a few years to give me the space to come up with ways to renew the funds in this scholarship. I am sure I will ask my cohorts to vote on this. But, this is where SHIELD is holding my hand, and I do know that I can at least be sure to share any reports or documentation to be sure there is transparency at all levels.
I appreciate you bearing with me to the end of this brief and hopefully you will stick it out to see the end of this mission by considering a donation of any level as any bit helps.
If I don’t make the goal of raising the amount needed to both co-fund the trip to Africa and raise scholarship money, I will do whatever it takes to get to Africa even if it means taking the money out of my own retirement fund or selling off furniture. I told the family I was doing this and I will. But it would be so lovely to be able to get the help to see both goals met while helping future design students have their dreams come true.
Thank you & Namaste <3
WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO:
“The Mission” = $4500.00 of the total goal
FLIGHT COST ESTIMATES: (haven’t booked yet)
Round trip to JRO (Kilimanjaro) approx. $900 - $1,900
Sometimes I see really good deals on Hopper, etc., but they are really complicated and involve multiple changes. My fear is that I will get stuck somewhere and miss the hiking crew setting off which would mean that my mission will fail. For that reason, I am setting the goal at the highest I have seen the price as of yet for a coach flight with 2 stops in London and Ethiopia.
SHUTTLE:
Shuttle from JRO to Moshi, Tanzania (Where I will be staying the day before the hike begins) = $20
(https://www.zaratours.com/getting-to-moshi/)
ARRIVAL HOTEL STAY:
Lodging; Moshi, Tanzania
$100/night x 2 nights
SPENDING MONEY:
Monies used for personal expenses will come out of my own pocket $0
CLIMB EXPENSES:
June 27 - July 3rd
$ 2530
Tips are already included.
30 x Porters (they are the people that carry everything up the mountain)
2 x cooks
3 x assist guides
1x Guide
I WILL BE STAYING BEHIND AFTER MY MISSION TO TAKE ERIC’S ASHES TO THE TOP of THE MOUNTAIN AND SO WILL INCUR ALL EXPENSES FOR ANY ACTIVITY AFTER THE 3rd, INCLUDING THE RETURN HOTEL STAY AND SHUTTLE BACK TO THE AIRPORT.
TOTAL EXPENSES ESTIMATED AT $4500.00
***ANY MONIES NOT USED WILL GO BACK TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIP COMPONENT OF THIS FUNDRAISER OR REGISTERED EXPENSES RELATED TO IT
THE SCHOLARSHIP = $20,000.00 of the total goal
DONATION LEVELS:
Donations over $1,000-
- Large framed, matted & signed photo of Africa
- Your choice of image; mages to be provided within 30 days of arrival back into the US
- Actual size TBD
As I am going to be there for 10 days, I will be taking my Canon and will be sure to capture as much of the beauty, both in landscape and its people. I will be sure to process these into a folder that can be previewed and the image of choice selected. Size of matting and frame will be determined once the image is selected but will be a minimum of 11” x 17”.
Donations over $500-
- Small framed, matted & signed photo of Africa
- Your choice of image; mages to be provided within 30 days of arrival back into the US
- Actual size TBD
As I am going to be there for 10 days, I will be taking my Canon and will be sure to capture as much of the beauty, both in landscape and its people. I will be sure to process these into a folder that can be previewed and the image of choice selected. Size of matting and frame will be determined once the image is selected but will be 8” x 10”
Donations over $250-
- A souvenir purchased from a craftsman in Tanzania
Selection/Object is unknown at this point, as I haven’t travelled to Tanzania before but we will be at the market the day before we ascend the mountain and then again the day after so I will be sure to pick these little treats at this time and will send photos to donors for selection.
NOTE:
GoFundMe is clearly an amazing platform, as it helps so many people reach goals that they would never quite potentially would have otherwise. I feel that in my case, this is the truth as I have a really hard time asking for help!
On that note, do know that since GoFundMy charges 2.9% for each donation (and surely deserves it!), that the goal set on the GoFundMe page reflects an approximate 2.9% increase above what it would actually cost to reach the goals I have detailed out below.
Joking aside, there are even courses that are a bit more serious that help prepare you for the invisible and somber side of teaching such as managing IEP cases and how to navigate the possibility that you may have to one day report suspected abuse of a student.
But never in the 2 years it took to pursue both my credentialing degree and my Master’s Degree in Secondary Education did they ever teach us how to lose a student.
It is a lesson that many before me have had to learn on their own and many after but I can’t begin to tell you what that learning curve will do to you, both professionally and personally.
The call came on the first Sunday morning of 2021, the day before we were to resume (virtual) school following our holiday break.
I was jogging around my neighborhood, trying to work off some Christmas cookies when my phone rang pretty early… around 8ishhhhhh.
All of my Graphic Design 2 students have me on lockdown; they know I will do anything to help them succeed, even on the evenings and weekends.
By now they’ve probably had me for 1-2 years and we are really close so to see Eric calling me on a Sunday morning this early, I picked up and laughed, “Dude, what are you doing calling me this early on a Sunday morning???”
I heard sobbing, a mix of wailing and moaning, and I knew in that moment that something was horribly and irrevocably wrong.
Eric’s mother, Jessica, began to tell me that Eric was in ICU as over the weekend he had suffered from an inexplicable aneurysm and was in a coma.
The details of that whole conversation, the week after while waiting for a miracle, his passing, and - to be honest- the weeks that followed are something of a blur to me now but the bottom line is that Jessica had to make a decision that no mother should have to make: continue to hold on and pray for a miracle or believe the opinions and signs that his organs were indeed shutting down and allow the doctors to take him off of life support.
I had only met Jessica once over the course of Eric’s high school journey but from that moment on, I really believe that Eric brought us together for a reason. Looking back as to why his family would reach out to me and allow me to be an integrated part of his passing is a bit of a mystery other than Jessica stated I was Eric’s favorite teacher and the one that showed him who he was but I think it is because I am a remnant of who Eric was- we were both artists, designers, pacifists, nature lovers, hikers, and we both believed that love was the only answer to all of the world’s problems.
I am so honored to have become friends with this family, so honored to be allowed access to talk to Eric on the phone before his passing in hopes that my joking would startle him out of the coma he was in, honored to be able to go to the hospital to visit the family even if I couldn’t go into ICU to see Eric, honored to be asked to write a eulogy that was spoken over his body while the doctors removed his organs which saved 2 little ones’ lives, honored to be employed by a school who stepped up - generous staff, students and parents- to donate money and meals to Jessica and his little sister while they grieved, honored to be able to text Jessica on a weekly basis to check on her while she shares her healing process and details of Eric’s memorial and eventual celebration of life.
And that is where this part of the story begins.
Recently an adventurer friend of mine shared with me the opportunity to go this summer to hike to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa with a group of fellow school friends as he knows I have the heart of a traveler and am in love with humanity.
Being a teacher - a single mother living in the state of California at that- doesn’t afford me the chance to travel unless it is for work, or if it is school-led travel trips and this opportunity did not fall under either category but there was something about this trip.
In my spirit, I felt that I would be going and for a bigger reason than amazing Instagram posts.
Despite not knowing how in the world I was going to do it, I put down a non-refundable deposit and started purchasing the special hiking items needed when ascending a mountain such as Kilimanjaro (it is a bit of a challenge to say the least!)
Within that same week, I met up with Jessica to have lunch which we like to do as often as possible just to laugh and cry about Eric together.
She started showing me photos off of her phone of Eric and the last hike they took as a family.
It seemed serendipitous that the opportunity to be at the top of one of the highest mountains in the world came about the same time his mother shared with me so many photos of him on one of their family hikes.
Eric’s love for nature and hiking was well known by all of his friends and even the staff members at our school.
Jessica then shared with me that they were to receive Eric’s ashes soon.
As she was showing me images of the glass vase that his ashes would be placed in and all of the vials she would be giving to close family, and that she wanted to share a bit of him with me, that is when it hit e and I asked without thinking:
“Jessica, how would you and the family feel about letting me take Eric’s ashes to the top of Mt.Kilimanjaro which I will be hiking this summer?”
She started crying and said simply, “Eric would love that”.
And now it is my mission to be sure he gets there.
But the idea didn’t stop there.
There is more.
Eric had just been accepted to FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in San Francisco shortly before passing away.
We had been working on his portfolio and application a few months prior and had a long talk about how amazing it was that he was pursuing his dreams of being able to create art, design & music; he had never thought it possible and almost didn’t apply.
When he was a freshman in my Graphic Design class, he showed interest and gave it his all but he still hadn’t “let me in”.
You see, he was really just adjusting to the school -not thrilled at all to be attending a school that wasn’t his choice- but was always well mannered, polite, and for sure had a creative side to him.
I was a bit surprised to see him in my Graphic Design 2 course, as I knew he was good but never knew he really loved design enough to put up with me another year… especially knowing my high expectations and demand for commitment.
Within the first project, I knew he had the “design bug”.
He was now a member of the “Cult of Fitchhorn”, or, as a previous student of mine called my design students, “Sons of a Fitchh”.
I asked him what he was doing after high school and if he had any plans and at that point he stated he would probably go into the field his father was employed in which was, honorably, a tradesman. I told him whatever he chose to do, do it with passion and purpose, but that he had a future in design and if he was interested, I would support him 1000% in pursuing that.
He never committed at that time, but as his talent , instincts, passion, and commitment grew, I could tell he was starting to believe in himself.
Senior year for Eric was the Covid year and although students had not returned on campus yet, in the fall of 2020 Eric asked to come see me in my class so I could help him apply to FIDM.
I cried, sooooo happy that he was believing in himself and following his dreams.
He shared with me that he was so scared and nervous, that he suffered from anxiety and it was causing him to doubt his path.
I shared with him my own fears and anxieties and how I knew that if I didn’t press through, I wouldn’t be where I was today.
I told him that it is better to try, fail, and get back up then to look back with regret that you didn’t even try.
He agreed and said he couldn’t imagine doing anything else in life.
Tragically, so many students do not even find their calling, let alone break through fear in order to pursue a dream and tragically, Eric’s dream of attending FIDM was cut short in the very beginning of 2021.
Eric didn’t get a chance to attend but I know for a FACT that he would, if he were still with us, not only attend but come back and share with my new design students everything he had been through, struggled with and overcame. I know for a FACT that Eric would “give back”.
That is who he was, in every way possible, as his friends and peers would tell you.
And, finally, I know for a FACT that he would want any student that was interested in art or design school and, due to the high cost of attending art/design schools, may not even try and attempt to go.
It is my intention with the remainder of the monies raised to create a scholarship in Eric’s name for any student who has applied for a design or art school and shows economic and/or artistic merit in these areas, as that is what Eric would want.
Your donations above and beyond the expenses of allowing me the privilege of taking Eric’s ashes to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro would go into a scholarship that will be created and maintained by our school’s very own SHIELD- a non-profit group that is a support group ran by parents who raise monies for the staff, students, and school in general. They are a passionate group of people who work endlessly to bridge gaps of funding, supplies, and sweat equity at our small school and who have shown nothing but support for ideas on how we can forever honor Eric on our campus as he is the epitome of a success story and a model for how we are writing our Charter update.
You see, not all students at our college-prep, charter high school are the straight A students who are headed off to State & University with a plan in hand, much to the misconception of many.
As a dependent charter school and a school of choice, many parents apply for the opportunity to be in a small school setting where we see the students for who they are, where they are, and help them to successfully be prepared for ANY path they may choose whether that be a trade school, junior college, or other.
Eric didn’t want to be at our school his first year, away from his friends that were attending other schools in the district and really struggled with even being there.
High expectations and high levels of teacher attention are hard to escape in a school of 500.
But he definitely made a lot of friends with his soft, quiet demeanor. He was easy going and polite and made friends with anyone from any “group” of students.
After Eric’s passing, so many students shared with me stories of how he always encouraged them and checked on them; he was always there for them when they needed someone to talk to. Teachers remarked how impressed they were with his journey from Freshman year to Senior year as he started showing more and more interest in his courses and became more and more grounded in our culture.
By his senior year not only did he find many friends that are now loyal to his memory, but he also found his calling, his passion, his purpose and broke through many strongholds to pursue what he wanted to do.
This scholarship is intended for THOSE students.
I can’t tell you how I am going to maintain this scholarship year after year and don’t even know the process! I am not sure whether to give it all away in one swoop or if I should divide it up over the course of a few years to give me the space to come up with ways to renew the funds in this scholarship. I am sure I will ask my cohorts to vote on this. But, this is where SHIELD is holding my hand, and I do know that I can at least be sure to share any reports or documentation to be sure there is transparency at all levels.
I appreciate you bearing with me to the end of this brief and hopefully you will stick it out to see the end of this mission by considering a donation of any level as any bit helps.
If I don’t make the goal of raising the amount needed to both co-fund the trip to Africa and raise scholarship money, I will do whatever it takes to get to Africa even if it means taking the money out of my own retirement fund or selling off furniture. I told the family I was doing this and I will. But it would be so lovely to be able to get the help to see both goals met while helping future design students have their dreams come true.
Thank you & Namaste <3
WHERE THE MONEY WILL GO:
“The Mission” = $4500.00 of the total goal
FLIGHT COST ESTIMATES: (haven’t booked yet)
Round trip to JRO (Kilimanjaro) approx. $900 - $1,900
Sometimes I see really good deals on Hopper, etc., but they are really complicated and involve multiple changes. My fear is that I will get stuck somewhere and miss the hiking crew setting off which would mean that my mission will fail. For that reason, I am setting the goal at the highest I have seen the price as of yet for a coach flight with 2 stops in London and Ethiopia.
SHUTTLE:
Shuttle from JRO to Moshi, Tanzania (Where I will be staying the day before the hike begins) = $20
(https://www.zaratours.com/getting-to-moshi/)
ARRIVAL HOTEL STAY:
Lodging; Moshi, Tanzania
$100/night x 2 nights
SPENDING MONEY:
Monies used for personal expenses will come out of my own pocket $0
CLIMB EXPENSES:
June 27 - July 3rd
$ 2530
Tips are already included.
30 x Porters (they are the people that carry everything up the mountain)
2 x cooks
3 x assist guides
1x Guide
I WILL BE STAYING BEHIND AFTER MY MISSION TO TAKE ERIC’S ASHES TO THE TOP of THE MOUNTAIN AND SO WILL INCUR ALL EXPENSES FOR ANY ACTIVITY AFTER THE 3rd, INCLUDING THE RETURN HOTEL STAY AND SHUTTLE BACK TO THE AIRPORT.
TOTAL EXPENSES ESTIMATED AT $4500.00
***ANY MONIES NOT USED WILL GO BACK TOWARDS SCHOLARSHIP COMPONENT OF THIS FUNDRAISER OR REGISTERED EXPENSES RELATED TO IT
THE SCHOLARSHIP = $20,000.00 of the total goal
DONATION LEVELS:
Donations over $1,000-
- Large framed, matted & signed photo of Africa
- Your choice of image; mages to be provided within 30 days of arrival back into the US
- Actual size TBD
As I am going to be there for 10 days, I will be taking my Canon and will be sure to capture as much of the beauty, both in landscape and its people. I will be sure to process these into a folder that can be previewed and the image of choice selected. Size of matting and frame will be determined once the image is selected but will be a minimum of 11” x 17”.
Donations over $500-
- Small framed, matted & signed photo of Africa
- Your choice of image; mages to be provided within 30 days of arrival back into the US
- Actual size TBD
As I am going to be there for 10 days, I will be taking my Canon and will be sure to capture as much of the beauty, both in landscape and its people. I will be sure to process these into a folder that can be previewed and the image of choice selected. Size of matting and frame will be determined once the image is selected but will be 8” x 10”
Donations over $250-
- A souvenir purchased from a craftsman in Tanzania
Selection/Object is unknown at this point, as I haven’t travelled to Tanzania before but we will be at the market the day before we ascend the mountain and then again the day after so I will be sure to pick these little treats at this time and will send photos to donors for selection.
NOTE:
GoFundMe is clearly an amazing platform, as it helps so many people reach goals that they would never quite potentially would have otherwise. I feel that in my case, this is the truth as I have a really hard time asking for help!
On that note, do know that since GoFundMy charges 2.9% for each donation (and surely deserves it!), that the goal set on the GoFundMe page reflects an approximate 2.9% increase above what it would actually cost to reach the goals I have detailed out below.
Organizer
NADJA FITCHHORN
Organizer
Vacaville, CA