<div>In Loving Memory of Soni Linda Sanchez-Bates

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>This is Jennifer Bates-Fernandez &amp; Teddy Bates, and we're starting this fundraiser in honor &amp; memory of our beautiful mother, Soni Sanchez-Bates, lovingly known by many as Soni "Sunshine". Her sudden passing on October 16th, 2024 from cardiac arrest is something many of us who loved her dearly have yet to fully accept. We never imagined having to live on in a world without her. Though quiet &amp; unimposing, her loving presence was always felt no matter the distance.

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Our mom was a truly special soul — bubbly, shy, soft-spoken, and full of love. She had a heart that could stretch endlessly for others, did not keep a record of wrong, and knew no conditions. She was selfless, forgiving, and gave grace even when she wasn’t given much in return. She was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off her back without hesitation and find joy in the smallest gestures. Similar to the innocence of a child, she was most times naive to the ugliness of the world, always believing the best of and expecting good from those in it. This was because she herself didn't possess a bad bone in her body.

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Our mother was beautiful inside and out — a former beauty queen in her youth who took pride in her statuesque physique and killer lashes, had a passion for dance, loved laughter, being silly and all things girly. She possessed an understated sophistication and class not easily achieved by others. Beneath her sweetness was a deep strength and fierce fervor for her children. She became a mom at the difficult age of 16 to Teddy, who was born a twin and facing a lifetime of challenges ahead of him. She devoted her life to caring for him, and did the best she could for our family and others she loved. She always put everyone’s needs before her own, often to her own detriment. Over the years, life’s hardships and health struggles took their toll on her, and she carried silent pain. Our mom never complained, never sought attention for and refused to "burden" anyone with her struggles. There were so many things she never got to experience or see turn around, but she took pride in the accomplishments and lives of us, her children, and our happiness. She dreamed of a better chapter someday that unfortunately she never had and never will have the chance to experience. All we can do know is continue living our own stories in all the ways she'd want us to.

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Why We're Raising Funds:

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>We're planning a memorial celebration for her in June 2026, which will be a day to honor her life, her light, and her legacy. We want it to be something beautiful — just like she was — where family and friends can come together to remember her and the love she gave so freely. As simple, humble and modest as she was, she'd enjoy us just gathering together over a good cup of coffee and conversation, but she deserves the absolute best we can do; something as exquisite, glamorous and refined as she was.

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Additionally I, Jennifer, would love to provide my aunt Maggie &amp; brother Teddy with some financial respite. They've remained in the NYC apartment thus far, the one where I spent most my life and now have the last physical connection to my mom, with one less person/one less income. Only a miracle has made it possible for them to sustain food on the table &amp; a roof over their heads. Teddy lost all benefits immediately following our mom's passing, as she was his assigned payee. It's been a nightmare trying to rectify this situation over the last 13 months. Titi Maggie has also exhausted any savings she owned, stepping into my mother's shoes to care for Teddy, with an open heart and not expecting anything in return. It would be such a blessing to be able to bless them, no matter the amount.

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Funds raised will go toward:

</div>

<div>A venue or space for us to hold a memorial as unique as our mom

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>A final resting place for her ashes and a headstone worthy of her memory

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Small keepsakes for those who attend, so everyone can take a piece of her “sunshine” with them

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Some relief for my brother Teddy and aunt Maggie until they can get some semblance of bearings

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>Our goal is $20,000, which will help us give her the farewell she deserves and bring a little peace to the family she cared for so deeply. No amount of money will ever make her passing easier to accept, but it may offer temporary comfort. Any donation, no matter the size, means the world. If you’re unable to give, even sharing this page helps more than you know. 

</div>

<div><br />

</div>

<div>If you knew our mom, you knew unconditional love and generosity. You knew gentleness, faith and forgiveness. You knew someone who could see the good in absolutely anyone without notice of flaws. From the bottom of my heart — thank you for helping us honor our mom, Soni Sunshine, and for keeping her light alive.

</div>

sara mckenna

Anonymous

Mary Bates

Ira Vaupen

Michael LePond

Support Soni's Family & Honor her Memory

platform

Platform is iOS

Android

Adyen Google Pay Development Audience

$opt_dummy_attribute

English only

Deprecate Stripe Legacy

dyn_template_ids

Adyen V6 Bene Transfer & MyMoney Campaign Organizers - test01

Bene transfer V6 and AdyenV6MyMoney Campaign Organizers - production

OneTrust next-app audience

fundCountryCode

NextDoor Share Option Users

Fundraisers with Reactions feature capability

fundCurrencyCode

US + Non-charity COs Only

locale

fund country is US and user language is English

personId

comms-internal-person-ids

Enhanced Story Experience Users

Suggested Goal Experience Users

user language is English and fund country: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

Poster share - new funds eligible (newest 9/18)

Streaming widgets beta user

paymentProcessor

3DS payment method

user language is English and fundCountry: US, AU, DK, FI, IE, NO, SE, CA, GB; 

GoFundMe Employees

ipAddress

Mark Rieth IP Address

Version 9.2.0 and above

Fund is in English speaking country

desktop

Android v12.11.0 and above

Platform is Android

paymentMethodType

checkoutType

Payment method type group to be vaulted on success

admin pr kit prod

EUR Donation Upsell

Share Text generation Skip Fundraiser

(prod) new funds eligible for amp12 (UGC gallery)

fintrac_cad_idv_form_v2 audience

paymentProcessorAccountId

fallback mode accounts

proCampaignId

p2p legacy startfundraising page

AMP24 New Funds Only PROD (DO NOT MODIFY)

countryCode

charityId

UKCharities

Federated Search Internal Testing

route.pathname community

US Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks Feature Audience

Supporter Comments Eligible Funds

International Only

fundId

braze fundraiser group 

Payment Identity Transfers ATO Risk Check (Targeted) - Production

Fundraiser Saved Payment Method Rate Limit Bypass (Production)

leaderboard-partner-id-audience-givepanel

Version 9.2.1 and above

AUD Donation Upsell audience

fundraiserCountryCode is US/EN

Active Fundraiser - Smart Default Cadence

DAF Internal

Vault on success card payment method

Platform is iOS v11.0.0 and above

Desktop users

Person ids

United States (US) users

allow yuno fundraisers for test

Mexico country code

Posters INTL

NPO Profile Opted-In

iOS at or above 12.4.0

non-US recurring donors

Canada Campaign Owner Group

Fundraiser Without Meta Link

Scheduler payment tester gorup

charityCommunityId

Charities allow to be claimed unclaimed (PRD)

Canada (CA) users

currencyCode

UC Tipping v20250115 International

pymk_production_xplr_fe_team

Android at or above 12.2.0

Profile photo entry point audience

smart goals (fundraiser/manage) on test01

Activity Tracking v1 Beta Testing

writePath

Stream Notification

start gfm intl allowed locales

Platform is iOS v11.2.0 and above

unclaimed charities

prod_ach_audience

AI Chatbot Audience

amp13 only new funds (prod) (anyword auto)

UC Flow Enabled (Prod)

Payment Identity Beneficiary Verification - Production

shared notification bell audience

Custom users

ach frontend audience

Android v11.0.0 and above

Users Receiving Payments Paused Notifications

smart goals test01

Manage Coach - US English Organizers Only + new funds only

Team EGG - IP Address list

Fundraiser Without Instagram Deep Link

Native 11.4.0 and above

UC Tipping v20250107

Users Receiving Braze KYC Validation Failed

Native 11.3.0 and above

Influencer - Prod

US fundraisers and US users

ai_title_page

anyword

openai

control

manual_entry

userEmail

template_id

userId

fundUrl

isCharityCo

email

appVersion

shouldBucketIntoExperiment

partnerId

donationCadence

isActiveFundraiser

isPartner

isMobile

npoProfileOptIn

fundIsLinkedWithMeta

hasSessionDonation

isCampaignOwner

fundHasInstagramDeepLink

Native 11.4.0 and higher

New funds eligible - Video Sharing (PROD)

GB Donation Upsell audience 

Auto Thanks V3 Rollout Audience

Thank you V3 testing whitelist

isRecurringFriendly

Is Recurring Friendly

Excluded funds - Video Sharing

Logged In Users

CH Donation Upsell audience

Android v10.6.0 and above

userCurrencyCode

Localized Currency

v11.5.0 and above

testAudience

pathname

Survicate

appVersion is at or above 12.8.0

Non-charity fund

isChallengeFundraiser

challenge-fundraisers

Payment Identity Launch Verification - Production

New funds eligible - Posters v2

CAD Donation Upsell Audience

Braze Email Tester

NPO Profile Opted-Out

iOS App Version

hasKnownDonors

PYMK has donors

iOS v12.3.0 and above

Support Soni's Family & Honor her Memory

Still $19,590 to go. Help us build momentum.