Jimmy  Darts

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Pattie Gonia

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Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

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Samuel Weidenhofer

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Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

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Amy Jandrisevits

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Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div>On January 7th, my world was turned upside down. <strong>While I was at work about 25 miles away, my 14-year-old son, Ben, he was at home in Pacific Palisades, safely asleep for the final week of his winter break from school. That all changed when a wildfire broke out dangerously close to our house. </strong>I started my day, but then received an alert on my phone about the fire and soon after, frantic calls and texts from the LAFD urging evacuation.
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<div>The next five hours felt like a nightmare. I tried desperately to reach Ben, but he wasn’t answering his phone. When he finally did, I told him to grab the pets and pack whatever he could. Despite my attempts to guide him, the flames were closing in so quickly, I couldn’t make it to him. I had to turn around just before the fire overtook my car. But I was lucky — <strong>I flagged down police officers who coordinated with another unit to rescue Ben and our four pets, bringing them safely to me.</strong>
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<div>Ben was terrified for those five hours and has experienced separation anxiety and sleeplessness since. Having to evacuate and attempt to pack himself, he had only the clothes on his back, no books, no holiday gifts he had just opened, no home necessities, no toiletries, and certainly no pet supplies. We had to leave everything behind. My heart aches knowing how traumatic this has been for him. Ben is an incredibly compassionate and kind soul who always looks out for others. The last thing he deserves after the challenges of growing up through the pandemic is this kind of hardship.
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<div>We’ve been part of the Palisades community for 11 years. It’s been a dream come true to live in such a peaceful and supportive oasis. I have worked so hard to be here and never took it for granted. We are an active part of the community and have always made it our mission to give back through charitable efforts and helping those in need. Now, we find ourselves in need.
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<div>Sadly, Ben’s school has also been destroyed, and they’re transitioning to online learning for the foreseeable future, which is far from ideal for his future. Ben needs a refuge to continue to grow and soar emotionally, socially, and educationally. He is currently a straight A student with lofty goals for his college career and beyond. Our rental home is still standing, but with the strong winds expected next week, we don’t know if it will survive.
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<div><strong>Even if our condo survives this tragedy, we are not sure what will be salvaged.</strong>
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<div>To make matters worse, I was laid off earlier this year and had to undergo a major surgery to repair my fully ruptured hamstring tendons. My recovery has been long and painful. I am not able to do what I used to physically. I’ve recently secured a temporary job in recruiting however, it’s a significant pay cut and without benefits, PTO, etc., and the bills from both my period of unemployment and surgery are piling up.
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<div>We know so many have been affected and we are just one family out of thousands. We have a big ask and appreciate all your love and support. We are doing our best to stay strong, but it’s been incredibly difficult. Once we get back on our feet, we will make sure to pay this kindness forward.
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<div><strong>Thank you so much for your support. We’re not giving up — but we need your help to keep moving forward.</strong>
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Help Palisades Single Mom & Son Heal: Kim and Ben's Story

I don’t know how to start or where to begin, or how to get through typing this. My name is Katie (Simmons) DeRouen. I am the 2nd of 9 children of Ray and Dawn Simmons. My parents are two of the most caring people to have as parents. They have dedicated and sacrificed so much, and then some, for us. On December 17th, my mom, Dawn, my youngest sisters, Lindy (20) and Kamryn (15), my youngest brother, Christopher (17) and his girlfriend, Marissa (16), traveled to Monroe for Christopher’s basketball game. He plays for Acadiana Christian School and for the first time in their history, they are undefeated On the way home, they were traveling south on interstate 49. A selfish, scum of the earth human, decided to get behind the wheel intoxicated. This person was driving north in the southbound lane on the interstate and plowed head-on into my family’s car. My dad called me as I was at a Christmas party and told me “Mom got in a wreck. It’s not looking good, but she’s stable”. I flew to the hospital, crying along the way, thinking my mom was hurt but absolutely not thinking anything worse. When we arrived to LGMC, my brother, Shea and Dad were frantic as they just learned from facebook that the accident involved two fatalities. I was in complete denial and knew both fatalities had to be in the other car. There is no way that God would take one of my little babies from us. As we learned the other car involved only had one occupant, my mind still convinced me that someone is getting their information twisted and it could not be true. Mom arrived very confused with a bleeding spleen, a punctured lung and two broken ankles. We learned today she also has a lacerated carotid artery that they’re worried about bleeding causing a stroke and broken wrists. Marissa had a broken femur and some abdominal bruising. But they were stable and that gave us some relief to be able to deal with locating my siblings. The state trooper called my dad back to say that the “young blonde that was driving” did not survive as well as the driver of the other car, and that he thinks some of the kids may be at Opelousas General. We all lost it, but I still did not accept this as fact. None of my siblings were at LGMC, where my mom was, and we called every hospital we could think of to locate them. What we didn’t realize was, the hospitals that had taken them in did not know who they were, therefore their names were not showing up. My mother-in-law, husband and I flew to Opelousas and I decided to call again, just incase. The operator informed me that they didn’t have anyone by their names, but they did have “someone from a car accident if I wanted to come and identify them.” I asked what she meant by identify, because certainly she didn’t mean identify a body. I expected to walk in to one of my siblings in the hospital bed, bruised and banged up, but alive. When the nurse met us, he asked me to describe my sister and informed me that the young female there had expired. We eventually were lead to the room where they unzipped my sweet baby sister’s body bag and revealed to me her perfect face. Yes, that’s Kamryn. I immediately called my dad to let him know it wasn’t Lindy, as we had thought. It was the baby, it was our baby, Kamryn. We asked the nurse to please help us locate my other two siblings, since now they are the ones in critical condition that we need to get to as soon as possible. He left and returned in a few minutes to let me know that there was a young gentleman at Bunkie General. I let out a sign of relief as I stated okay, that’s my baby brother, at least he’s ok. Well, I know he’s not ok, but at least he’s alive. Where is my sister? The world stopped turning when he shook his head no. No? My baby brother isn’t alive? There are no words to explain that moment. He then proceeded to tell me the young blonde who was driving was still at the scene because they were unable to extract her from the vehicle. And just like that, we went from one sibling didn’t make it, to all three of them not making it. He informed me that I needed to head to Bunkie General to identify my baby brother so that he could be given a name and able to follow all other procedures after tragedies like this. I drove, what seemed like 97 million hours to Bunkie. I did not feel like I was in control of my body as I walked into the third hospital of the night. When the nurse unlocked the door and I saw his hair, I knew it was him. My sweet, innocent, perfect baby brother who had his entire life ahead of him, was laying there, lifeless. He still had the breathing tube in his mouth. I could see his little teeth resting on it. His nose was purple. I couldn’t stay to see him much longer, but it was him. I have never, in my life, experienced more pain than in that moment. Everyone at the hospital was so kind, but nothing took away the pain that was bruing in my heart. The three babies of the family are gone. My dad lost his three youngest children and is with my mom in ICU. My mom is in ICU without a clue as to what happened. The absolute hardest part of this entire experience, next to losing my siblings, is knowing that my mom will be informed of this whenever she awakens. It is absolutely gut wrenching for me to share this and I am passionately sharing in hopes of raising awareness of how devastating getting behind the wheel intoxicated can be. Our lives our shattered. My parents lived for us. Everything they did in life was for the benefit of their children. We went from our “big family of 9 kids” to 6 kids in the blink of an eye. I don’t know how we will ever move on or recover from this. So as I create this GoFundMe, please know that I am not asking or begging for money. I am simply a hopeless daughter who’s trying to think of anyway that I could make this even .000000001% better for my mom and dad in the very dark days to come. From the very limited information we have received, the driver of the other vehicle appeared to be living out of his vehicle, possibly homeless. I wouldn’t imagine he had great insurance coverage, although my mom did carry insurance. My mom has been a mail carrier and my dad has worked at Cleco for many, many years. A few weeks ago, my dad retired. This means, he no longer receives a lot of benefits that he did as an active employee. With this being said, I don’t know what the financial burden that lies ahead will be. I don’t know any financial/insurance information at this moment, but I do know that my parents will be out of work for a very long time. I don’t know that they’ll ever be able to mentally handle going back to work. I know that my mom and dad would not want me to do this. They have always been extremely independent, but if I can create this and relief ANY tiny bit of financial burden, I will swallow my pride and do so. If you can please, please, send up all of the prayers you can. My parents, my other siblings, my aunt, all of my siblings' friends…….. I am extremely scared of the moment my mom will find out the news. I am heart broken listening to how heart broken my daddy is. I am so worried about losing them too. We are crushed. We are empty. We are devastated. We are in disbelief. We are hurting. We don’t know how we will ever find joy in anything again. PLEASE DON’T DRIVE DRUNK. YOU CAN’T IMAGINE THE IMPACT YOU MAKE ON OTHERS LIVES BY THAT FOOLISH DECISION.

Help my grieving family after absolute tragedy

On Friday, July 3 Ari Gershman was shot and killed by a random gunman while off roading in his brand new 4 wheel drive Jeep with his son, Jack near Downieville, Ca.   After surviving over 30 hours alone in the Tahoe National Forest,  Jack was found safe.  Ari's wife Paige is in the fight of her life right now undergoing Chemo treatments for Cancer.   This family really needs our love and support.   Paige is now the single mother to Evan, 16 a rising Junior at SRV, Jack, 15, a rising sophomore at SRV, and Maci, 10, going into 5th grade at Sycamore.  Most recently Paige was a speech and language therapist for the Special Ed Preschool Classes at Greenbrook.   Ari was an avid bicyclist, a vegetarian, an outdoorsman, an Internal Medicine Doctor, a devoted and loving father and fantastic friend that was willing to drop anything for his friends and family.   He was witty and wise.  He died doing what  he loved with his son in an area he had hoped to retire in one day. <br />This GoFundMe will help Paige pay for Funeral Costs,  Chemo treatments and doctors appointments, family counseling, daily expenses.  The financial burden is overwhelming. <br />Please donate what you can.  Forward this GoFundMe to everyone you know.   <br />We love the Gershmans.

The Gershman Family Fund

<p>***Please take a moment to read our latest update***<br /><br />Would you please take a moment &amp; watch the 3 minute video above, telling Carter and our family's story?  **All donations are tax deductible ** <br /><br />I'm Jen, Carter's Mom.  My son is dying. There’s no other way to say it.  My beautiful, perfect little boy...is dying.  As I lay him down to sleep each night, my tears overflow, and a deep aching is in my heart at the reality of losing my child.  There is only <strong>ONE THING</strong> that can change his fate, and we are asking for your help. <strong>We are asking you to help save Carter.</strong> <br /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526953122.1383_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br /><br />Carter grew up loving to play "pirates", climbing on jungle gyms, reading "Brown Bear", and singing his ABC's… like any child.  But Carter isn’t like any child.  <strong>Carter was diagnosed with a devastating, fatal disease called Sanfilippo Syndrome.  <br /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526953265.9374_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br /></strong><br />Sanfilippo is a <strong>progressive brain disorder in little children</strong>, caused by just one missing enzyme… but it’s an important one.  Because he doesn’t have this enzyme, toxic storage material is building up in Carter’s brain every second.  You wouldn't know it by just looking at him, but this disease will soon begin shutting down critical areas needed to function.  As degeneration rapidly progresses, Carter will lose the ability to talk, swallow, walk, he will develop seizures, will suffer severe dementia, and die.  They call it a “Childhood Alzheimer’s.”<br /><br />At age 6, Carter is starting to show the signs of the disease.  Right now he can still talk, some.  He can still run and play with his big sister Sophia.  For now, he’s hanging on, but just barely.  This campaign for his LIFE is as urgent as it gets.  It’s <strong>Now or Never</strong> for Carter.<br /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526957810.4896_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br /><br /><strong>Our #1 goal is to raise $1 milllion dollars in 1 month, to give Carter his rightful chance at LIFE</strong>.  We can’t just sit back and accept that he’s going to fade away and die, not when there is something tangible that could save him.  The $1M will go to fund a clinical trial that can give him that chance.<br /><br />The love for a child is like no other.  If you are a parent, you know you would “go to the ends of their earth for your little ones”.  We are asking you… will you please go there with us now, for Carter?<br /><br />We know how quickly these campaigns can grow if supported and if shared with the masses.  Yes, we need your help to contribute what you are able, and to help share so <strong>#SavingCarter</strong> can go #viral, and we can reach this goal.<br /><br /><strong>Carter can LIVE.  Carter can get that chance at LIFE, and it will be thanks to you.  But it has to be now.</strong><br /><br />Our deepest thanks and words simply fail to express how incredibly grateful we are.<br /><br />Jen, Samir (Carter’s Mom &amp; Dad) and Sophia-age 8 (Carter's loving big sister, who would do absolutely anything for her little brother)<br /><br /><strong>#SavingCarter  # NowOrNever  #1Million1Month<br /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526954189.9221_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526954853.563_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /></strong><br /><strong><img class="not-resizable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/28834700_1526957896.397_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" /><br /><br />HOW YOU CAN HELP TODAY</strong><br /><br />1. Donate what you can, no amount is too small and donations are tax deductible<br /><br />2. Share on all social media with hashtags #SavingCarter #NowOrNever and #1Million1Month<br /><br />3. Email this GoFundMe link and these steps to all contacts you know<br /><br />4. Leverage any avenue you have to make this go viral (or send leads/tips to [email redacted])<br /><br /><br /><strong>WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING?</strong><br /><br />Every dollar goes to the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Cure Sanfilippo Foundation, who is funding this trial that can give Carter a chance at life. All donations are tax deductible. The research is a novel enzyme replacement therapy that has had remarkable results of helping fix the brain in closely related diseases. 100% of the funds raised here will go toward the research. We are currently racing against time to fund this trial and get it up and running. It will help Carter and so many other kids also hoping for a chance at life.  ***Any donations received above the goal will go directly to Cure Sanfilippo Foundation new research projects in need of funding<span style="font-size:1.0625rem;">***</span>
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<p><br /> <br /><br /><strong>WHY SO MUCH MONEY?</strong><br /><br />Getting a clinical trial up and running can cost millions of dollars. In Rare Diseases, large pharmaceutical companies have little interest because they don’t see ways to make a profit. The truth is that it is left up to parents to drive and fund the research for treatments and a cure. This will help fund this specific clinical trial that can save Carter and possibly thousands of other children with Sanfilippo in the future. If we can’t fund it, the clinical trial will not happen, and we are nearly out of TIME.<br /><br /><strong>TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE</strong><br /><br />Children’s cognitive abilities are completely taken away in less than 2 years on average, once they begin regressing. In this time, children regress back to an infantile state, likely never to return. This rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease will soon start taking over completely. Carter is 6 years old. I don't want to lose my baby. This must happen now.<br /><br /><strong>THERE IS A CLEAR FAST TRACK PATH TO TREATMENT</strong><br /><br />1. Manufacture clinical grade drug production<br /><br />2. Final safety studies<br /><br />3. FDA approval to proceed with clinical trial<br /><br />4. Start clinical trial<br /><br />If you would like to donate by check, please make the check out to: Cure Sanfilippo Foundation.  In memo, write:  For Saving Carter, and send to:  <br />Cure Sanfilippo Foundation<br />PO Box 6901 <br />Columbia, SC 29260<br /><br />Video thanks to Valentina Vee &amp; Benjamin Von Wong.  Sound credits Andrew Kesler  Photos: Anna Tenne Photography
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Kim Chase

Kim Chase

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