TomAroundTheWorld Support Fund

My name is Tom Carpenter.

Most people know me as Tom Around The World thanks to my website: www.TomAroundTheWorld.com. Others know me as the lead singer of the band Born Again Savages.

I have been out of work since the end of August 2014 due to a serious back injury. I had major surgery in February 2015, where they fused my entire back from my pelvis all the way up to the base of my neck. I will be unable to work for AT LEAST a year as I recover, and I will be partially disabled for the rest of my life. (The doctor's office has me listed as 72% disabled.)

I have applied for NYS Temporary disability and they denied me because a Nurse Practitioner signed my paperwork and not an MD. They have since received the same paperwork signed by an MD. (My lawyer is going to bat for me in this situation.)
I also have applied for Social Security Disability, and like they do to most people, they denied me, and I had to get a lawyer to fight for it. Due to a backlog of cases, the process will take at LEAST 14 months before I get a hearing. (My friend filed his appeal TWO YEARS ago, and his hearing is next week.)
I cannot lift anything, and cannot go back to work, as I recover from the surgery.

To make matters worse, my girlfriend of 9 1/2 years has ended our relationship, and I have to move out of her house. I have few options available because at this point, I get no disability, or unemployment. I currently owe $1800 for the last six months of rent. I was going to pay the back rent when my Disability came in. But now that I have to move out, I need to pay it off ASAP.

One option is to move into my 94 year old Grandmother's house. But I am a 46 year old man, and do not relish the idea. My Mom already lives there with her to help her out. I would also not have room for all my stuff, and I would need to pay for monthly storage space.

I have done TomAroundTheWorld.com since 2001, and with buttons, have raised money a dollar at a time to travel to some of the coolest concerts and interview, and hang out with, some of the world's greatest musicians. I have interview bands such as GWAR, The Sex Pistols, The Damned, Type O Negative, Richie Ramone, Billy Bragg, The New York Dolls, Anthrax, Quiet Riot, Social Distortion, Hank Williams III, The Buzzcocks, Queensrÿche, Lacuna Coil, Bad Brains, Andrew W.K., The Melvins, and many, many more.

I have always donated a portion of all the money that I raised through TomAroundTheWorld to various charity groups, both locally and nationally, and have donated thousands of dollars to many groups since the site began 2001.

I have been involved in the Syracuse music scene for over 20 years. My band, Born Again Savages, has been around since 1993. www.BornAgainSavages.com 

We are known as Syracuse's Clown Princes of Punk. We have played with many famous bands from Green Jello and The Supersuckers, to Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine, as well as The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, Die Monster Die, and others. 

As a promoter, I hosted the DECONSTRUCTION Indie Rock Night, and I have always promoted the local music scene. I even sponsored the 315 Locals Only show on the Syracuse radio station 95X for a period. When I booked shows, I gave many new bands their first opportunity to play, made sure they got paid, and turned a lot of people on to some great music. 

I also own and run King Weasel Buttons & Screen Printing. www.KingWeasel.com I made shirts and buttons for local bands & businesses for a fraction of the cost of other businesses, to help them have great quality merchandise at an affordable price. Due to my injuries and subsequent surgery, I will no longer be able to screen print, but WILL continue to make buttons when my doctor says it is ok to do so. Until then, I basically have NOTHING for an income source.

I have seen a LOT of people using crowd sourcing to help them achieve their goals. I even used it myself, successfully, to help start my business.

I have helped so many people over the years, and all I ever asked for was a DOLLAR in exchange for one of my TomAroundTheWorld buttons.  

Asking for help for myself is one of the hardest things I have had to do. But at this point, I do not have any other options.

My goal of $4,500 includes the amount of my back rent, enough to cover first month's rent and deposit on an apartment, moving truck rental, and few extra dollars to cover GoFundMe fees, and any incidental expenses.

Please donate what you can, and help me get back on my feet and start the next chapter of my life.

Thanks in advance for you support. 

Sincerely, 

Tom "AroundTheWorld" Carpenter