<div><strong>We're a group of people who've known Dr. Francois Clemmons for years and decades ... </strong>from high school and college, as a performing artist in New York and around the world, and as a faculty member / mentor at Middlebury College.
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<div><strong>All of us - and millions of others nationwide - have also known him as Officer Clemmons, </strong>the Black singing policeman from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. We watched him, our kids were inspired by him, and he became the first African American to have a leading role on national children's television.
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<div><strong>Together, we are now "Friends of Officer Clemmons" raising funds </strong>for him to afford medical care and assisted living in a residential retirement community in Middlebury VT … near friends, extended family and his church congregation.
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<div><strong>The costs for this kind of retirement community are high</strong> for almost anyone. But they are simply not possible for a performing artist like Francois, an openly-gay Black man who -- despite his leading role on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood -- encountered discrimination, struggled financially, and never benefited from legacy privilege or generational wealth.
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<div><strong>WE HAVE SET A GOAL OF $135,000 ... </strong>and we are asking for your help.
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<div><strong>We have an opportunity now </strong>to express our gratitude to Officer Clemmons<strong> </strong>for his artistic creativity and personal compassion over the decades. Let's show him our appreciation by making a significant difference at this critical time in his life.
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<div><strong>PLEASE JOIN US ... contribute</strong> as you can ... and <strong>share </strong>our fundraiser through your personal networks. Thank you!
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<div><strong>Notes: </strong>
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<li>All donations will be deposited into a special account to be used exclusively for Officer Clemmons' medical and retirement care expenses.
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<li>GoFundMe deducts a 2.9% fee from your gift as a one-time transaction fee.
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<li>GoFundMe also suggests a voluntary tip of 15% - but tipping is optional. The tip amount can be changed to 0%.
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<div><strong>FRIENDS OF OFFICER CLEMMONS</strong>
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<div>Adrian Benepe, Brooklyn NY
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<div>Andrew Lynch, Astoria NY
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<div>Carl Brown, Las Cruces NM
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<div>Chuck Dickinson, Watertown MA
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<div>Elizabeth Copps, Englewood CO
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<div>Jackie Fisher, New York City NY
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<div>Jane Beck, Middlebury VT
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<div>Jebb Norton, Santa Fe NM
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<div>Kathryn Schloff, Middlebury VT
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<div>Karl Lindholm, Middlebury VT
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<div>Mark Jaffee, Oberlin OH
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<div>Nat Carpenter, Beverly MA
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<div>Paul &amp; Frances Stone, Orwell VT
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<div>W. Marichal Gentry, Durham NC
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<div><strong>=&gt; VIEW </strong>Francois Clemmons singing "<a href="https://youtu.be/ma3hpU7a9J0" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This Little Light of Mine</a>" at the Berklee College of Music in January 2019, accompanied by George Russell, Jr. (faculty member).
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<div><strong>=&gt; FOLLOW THESE LINKS </strong> to learn about Francois Clemmons’ extraordinary life and career:
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<div>•	<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francois_Clemmons" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wikipedia article</a>
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<div>•	<a href="https://misterrogers.org/articles/officer-clemmons/#:~:text=Officer%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520Clemmons%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520was%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520one%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520of,an%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520intentional%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520statement%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520on%25252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252520inclusivity." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mister Rogers Neighborhood website</a>
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<div>•	<a href="https://www.biography.com/actors/mister-rogers-officer-clemmons-pool" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fred Rogers Stood Against Racial Inequality</a>
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<div>•	<a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/04/30/847315345/officer-clemmons-mister-rogers-neighborhood-policeman-pal-tells-his-story" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Public Radio (NPR) Book Review</a>
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<div>• <a href="https://www.addisonindependent.com/2023/04/27/francois-clemmons-to-celebrate-400-years-of-negro-spirituals/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clemmons celebrates 400 years of Negro spirituals</a>
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<div>Francois Clemmons after his final "Last Hurrah" concert, Champlain Valley Unitarian Universalist Society in Middlebury Vermont (May 6, 2023).  He is accompanied by Frances Stone, a member of the "Friends of Officer Clemmons" GoFundMe group.
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Officer Clemmons Needs Our Help

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Officer Clemmons Needs Our Help

Still $21,768 to go. Help us build momentum.