I'm Jay (Justin) McGraw, and with Anna's family, we're raising funds for Anna Maria Gonzalez's remembrance plans and two children: Max and Aaron (ages 7 and 8), after Anna recently passed away from Stage 4 cancer. As their caretaker and Anna's partner of 5 years through this entire journey, I want to make sure they are cared for without adding more strain to what they are already carrying. Both Max and Aaron miss their mom deeply, but even in grief, they have handling things with remarkable bravery by showing care for others who are hurting from this too. How I see this, their mom was their greatest inspiration and they're naturally doing what Anna would do, and everyone has been so proud to see them do this.

This fundraiser is meant to help with two important needs. First, we want to cover the practical costs of the remembrance party Anna wanted 2 months from her funeral; she wanted a gathering where people could come together and remember her after having time to heal. Our biggest concern is being able to host it in a space where people can gather comfortably, without having to worry about the weather. We also want to encourage a potluck and help make sure people have what they need to bring the dish that feels most meaningful to share, rather than needing to rely on catering.

Beyond the remembrance party, any remaining funds will go into the children's existing trust to help with the important needs that come up as they grow. That includes things like educational needs, holiday and birthday expenses, college, and other future needs. My hope is to keep that trust as untouched as possible now, so there is less scrambling later and more stability for the kids over time.

What matters most is protecting as much of Max and Aaron's steadiness as we can after losing Anna. Right now they are showing so much heart and resilience, and we want to preserve that compassion instead of letting the financial after-effects of this loss slowly chip away at it.

If you are able, please consider supporting Anna's children through this fundraiser. Recurring donations would help create more predictable support for their ongoing needs as they grow, and one-time gifts would also mean a great deal. Every contribution will help ease immediate pressure, protect their future resources, and honor Anna's memory with care.

(from left to right: Max, Anna, Jay, Aaron)