Paris Hilton

Jimmy  Darts

Flavor Flav

SB Mowing

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Carlos Eduardo Espina

Samuel Weidenhofer

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

<div><strong>Help Us Finish Our Documentary with Blackfeet Nation</strong>
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<div>My name is Ivan MacDonald. I’m a filmmaker and member of the Blackfeet Tribe, born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.
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<div>I am now directing an investigative documentary called Call My Spirit / Nikaomatsipiiyohsi, and our film team needs your help.
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<div>Call My Spirit explores the little-known dark history of Indian boarding schools, which has been swept under the rug in the United States. Most of the American public does not know this happened.
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<div>Our film team is here to finally bring the truth to light.
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<div>Many of the stories I tell come directly from the community that raised me. In Blackfeet culture, storytelling is how we carry history forward. It is how we pass down language, ceremony, memory, and survival.
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<div>For more than a century, the U.S. government and religious institutions, such as the Catholic Church, operated Indian boarding schools and forcibly assimilated Native children by removing them from their families. Many children experienced serious abuse inside these institutions, and thousands never returned home.
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<div>As a descendant of boarding school survivors myself, this film is deeply personal.
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<div>My great-grandmother, Mary Sherman, was taken to Genoa Indian Industrial School in Nebraska before later being sent to Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. After years inside the boarding school system, she was eventually sent back home to the Blackfeet Reservation at 19 years old after being deemed “unfit” for hard labor. Like many Native families, the impact of these schools did not end with one generation. That history still lives with us.
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<div>For the last several years, our documentary film team has been investigating the history and ongoing legacy of Native American boarding schools — the children who were lost, the survivors still carrying these experiences, and the families searching for answers generations later.
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<div>Right now, we are raising $25,000 to complete our final major film shoots this summer on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. These are some of the most important scenes in the film.
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<div>We will be filming with boarding school survivors, Blackfeet families, Tribal preservation workers, and researchers actively investigating former boarding school sites connected to missing children and unmarked graves.
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<div>The film follows two Indigenous women — Marsha Small and Iko Beck — whose investigations guide the story forward. Marsha uses ground-penetrating radar to search for possible burial locations on former boarding school sites. Iko works to preserve survivor testimony by listening and recording living survivors’ stories.
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<div>On a creative level, Call My Spirit will blend intimate cinema verité with experimental science and tech elements like radar scans, mapping data, and layered sound design. We are calling this cinematic style “Indigenous Futurism.”
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<div>My creative process has always centered around collaboration and reciprocity with the communities I work alongside. This project is also pushing me as a storyteller to be more experimental. We are trying to expand what Indigenous storytelling can look and feel like onscreen while staying grounded in the lived experiences of the people trusting us with their stories.
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<div>We’ve already spent years filming across Montana and beyond, documenting survivor gatherings, investigations, oral histories, and ceremonies connected to children being brought home. But this summer’s production is critical, and these moments cannot be recreated.
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<div>Your support will help cover:
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<li>Crew and film gear costs
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<li>Travel across Montana and the Blackfeet Reservation
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<li>Ongoing filming tied directly to boarding school investigations this summer
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<div>This is an Indigenous-led documentary being made alongside communities who have been deeply impacted by this dark legacy.
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<div>If you support this campaign, you are helping preserve testimony, document truth, and ensure these stories are not lost again.
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<div>Thank you for helping us finish this film.
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<div>— Ivan MacDonald
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<div>Director, Call My Spirit<em> / </em>Nikaomatsipiiyohsi
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<div>Biography
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<div>Ivan MacDonald is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker who is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe. His most recent project Murder In Big Horn premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and aired nationally on Showtime. He was an inaugural fellow for the Illuminative and Netflix Producers Fellowship and is alumni of the Firelight Media Lab with his sister Ivy. His directorial debut When They Were Here is currently in production and has been supported by ITVS, Chicken and Egg Pictures and Sundance.
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Call My Spirit

<div>Hello all,
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<div>My name is Mohamed Abushbeka, and I write to you from the heart of Gaza, a place where fear and uncertainty have become our daily companions. I have seen too much, endured too much, in the relentless grip of war and siege that has choked Gaza since 2006.
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<div>Imagine waking up each day not knowing if it will be your last. That's the reality we face in Gaza. The recent surge in violence, the echoes of war that started on the 7th, have only deepened the wounds in our souls, leaving us feeling helpless and abandoned.
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<div>Here in Rafah, where many seek refuge amidst the chaos, life has become a desperate struggle. Every meal is a luxury, every night a battle against despair. The simple act of survival has become a daunting task, as the cost of living soars beyond our reach.
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<div>Today, I reach out to you, not as a stranger, but as a fellow human being in need. I desperately seek your help to break free from this cycle of suffering, to find sanctuary and hope in Europe, a place where I can rebuild my shattered life away from the shadows of war.
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<div>But I cannot do this alone. The journey to safety is fraught with obstacles, financial burdens that weigh heavy on my shoulders. Your donations will be used to finance the following:
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<div>1. Rafah border crossing fees
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<div>2. Passport fees for travel
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<div>3. Renting a home for shelter
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<div>4. Covering living expenses during the resettlement period
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<div>5. GoFundMe fees associated with this campaign
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<div>The first step, crossing the border with Egypt, requires resources beyond my means. The cost of this crossing is prohibitive, a barrier that stands between me and the chance for a better future.
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<div>Your donations would enable me to lead a better life, pursue my dreams, and achieve stability. Regardless of the amount, your contribution would greatly assist me."
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<div>I pour out my gratitude to you for hearing my plea, for standing with me in solidarity. Please share my story, spread the word, and let kindness be our guiding star in this journey toward a brighter tomorrow.
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<div>Here are some videos showcasing our daily life. Take a peek into our world and witness the realities we face.
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<div>Video : <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/l8o4Kg7XlRQ?feature=shared" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Building a Tent for Emergency Shelter</a>
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<div>Tents fill Rafah, where Palestinians find refuge during hard times.
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<div>Thank you from the depths of my heart for your empathy and support.
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<div>Mohamed.
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Help me rebuild my life and survive the war !

The Kona low storm devastated our home and farm in Laie, Hawai’i, leaving us with unimaginable loss. The damage was so severe that we had to relocate our dogs for their safety, and now our once-familiar home and farm are unrecognizable. Every day, we are working to clear out the debris and begin the long process of rebuilding, but the challenges feel overwhelming at times. Our family and the rescues we care for have lost everything in the flood, and the road ahead is daunting. 
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 The funds raised will go directly toward purchasing materials and supplies, as well as renting the machinery we need to restore our land. Before we can even think about rebuilding, we must level the ground and lay down new layers of material to create a safe foundation. Every dollar will help us move closer to providing a secure and loving environment for our animals once again. 
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 This storm took everything from us—not just our home, but the safe haven we built for our animals. Our hope is to rebuild and continue caring for our rescues, and we are reaching out to our community for support. Whether it’s a quarter or a dollar, your generosity goes a long way. We truly believe that Aloha and humanity are still alive, and with your help, we can restore hope for our family and the animals who depend on us.

Help Us Rebuild After the Kona Low Storm

<div><strong>⛑ Emergency Fire Zone Animal Rescue – Help Save Lives ⏳</strong>
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<div>Imagine if this was your pet. The one who greets you at the door, curls up beside you at night, and trusts you with their life. Now imagine they were left behind in a disaster zone, alone, terrified, and injured—waiting for someone to come back.
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<div>Thousands of beloved pets were trapped behind fire lines when the Los Angeles wildfires tore through our communities. These animals aren’t just pets—they are family members. They were raised in homes filled with love, and now, many are hiding in the rubble, hungry, dehydrated, and suffering from burns and toxic smoke inhalation.
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<div><strong>Why I’m Rescuing Animals from the Fire Zones</strong>
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<div>My name is Sean Garrison, and I’ve spent over 20 years as a photojournalist documenting wildfires in Los Angeles. When I learned that animals were being left behind—and that rescue organizations weren’t being allowed behind the fire lines—I knew I had to act.
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<div>I made a post online offering to help, and pet owners immediately began reaching out. At first, I was doing this alone, using my press credentials to access burned-out neighborhoods and search for stranded animals. Soon, an organization called WUFAW (Women United for Animal Welfare) contacted me, asking if I could help behind the lines and save the animals they couldn’t reach.
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<div>I came up with an idea to use trail cameras and later thermal drones to track survivors, helping to expand search efforts far beyond what was previously possible. What started as one person trying to help turned into a massive coordinated rescue operation. Thanks to the combined efforts of WUFAW, LAAS, other animal rescue organizations, and volunteers, close to 1,000 animals have been reunited with their families. Some were burned, others were hiding in the wreckage, and many were just waiting for someone to come find them.
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<div><strong>Time is Running Out ⌛️</strong>
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<div><strong>The EPA and demolition crews have begun cleanup, and now that bulldozers and other heavy equipment have started, these animals are becoming even harder to find. Many are hiding in fear or hunted by displaced predators like coyotes and bobcats. Time is running out.</strong>
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<div>As of today 2/28, LAAS and all of the major organizations have withdrawn efforts. This week we are still having new sightings of cats we've never seen… and there are countless more out there across these massive burn zones. It takes a lot of patience and effort to go out and re-bait/set new traps daily. With manpower and resources dwindling, our odds are stacking against us.
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<div>The rescue organizations are spread thin as is, and understandably they had to shift their focus back to the rest of the SoCal animals that desperately need their help. You can count on one hand how many volunteers are till working on bringing these animals home. I am still out there day and night setting traps, but I have run out of cameras/traps. My mission remains the same. With your help we don’t have to give up on our furry friends.
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<div>I’ve sacrificed a lot for this cause. I put my career on hold, spent weeks on the frontlines away from my family, living out of my car, breathing toxic ash, and working around the clock to save these animals. I’ve put over 1,000 miles on my personal vehicle, patched multiple flat tires from fire debris, suffered staph infections, and tapped into my savings—all to continue this mission. I have a wife and 2-year-old daughter at home, and I was not able to work for over a month. Now, I’m falling behind on my bills, and my car—critical for rescue efforts—is breaking down.
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<div><strong><em>This was never about money.</em></strong> I had no idea how big this operation was going to become, otherwise I would have asked for support when I first started. Because we’ve reached such a critical point in our efforts, we still need to be out there around the clock before we lose our window to save them. I want to continue this operation full-time, but in order to do so, I will have to keep my business on hold.
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<div><strong>I will not stop fighting for these animals. But I need your help.</strong>
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<div>You can be part of this mission. Your support will help me continue working full-time to locate, rescue, and reunite pets with their owners.
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<div><strong>How Your Donation Will Save Lives:</strong>
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<div>✅ Continue full-time rescue efforts in the fire zones
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<div>✅ Fix my vehicle so I can keep transporting animals to safety
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<div>✅ Expand the search with more trail cameras and humane traps
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<div>✅ Fund thermal drone operations to scan fire zones for animals trapped in rubble
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<div>✅ Cover basic living expenses so I can keep working without financial collapse
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<div><strong>Just a few examples of operational costs to continue the mission:</strong>
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<div><em>Cost Breakdown</em>
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<div>* $35 – Covers gas for one rescue run into the fire zone
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<div>* $20 – Provides food and fresh water to bait traps and feed rescued animals for a day
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<div>* $10 – Buys batteries to power one trail camera for a week to monitor animal movement
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<div>* $250 – Buys a large animal trap and cellular trail camera setup
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<div>* $1,000 – Repairs my Land Rover, which has been running almost nonstop for six weeks
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<div>* $5,000 – Covers basic living expenses so I can continue full-time (rent, bills, groceries, and rent for my photo studio which has been completely shut down)
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<div>* $2,000 per night – Funds a thermal drone and two operators to scan fire zones for animals trapped in rubble (we need at least six nights of scanning)
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<div><strong>Be the Reason an Animal Survives</strong>
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<div>Even $5 can make a difference. If you can’t donate, please share this fundraiser. Every share spreads awareness and helps bring these pets home.
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<div>Let’s show these animals that they haven’t been forgotten. Donate today.
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<div>Thank you for your kindness and support.
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<div><strong><em>For updates, please follow my journey on IG and TikTok:﻿</em></strong>
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<div>Instagram: <strong>@</strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thescarygary/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TheScaryGary</strong></a>
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<div>TikTok: <strong>@</strong><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@thescarygary1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>TheScaryGary1</strong></a>
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⏳They’re Still Waiting: Help Sean Rescue LA’s Fire Pets ⛑

<div>My name is Elizabeth Iskander, and I'm reaching out to you with a heavy heart in hopes of generating support for my father, <strong>Rafik Iskander</strong>.


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<div><strong>On Wednesday, January 8th, the Eaton fire completely destroyed Ezzz Stop Food Store, the small business my father has tirelessly built and owned for over 30 years.</strong> He is the current sole owner of the market and has dedicated his life to this store and helping the Altadena community.


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<div>In an instant, decades of dedication, sacrifice, and resilience were reduced to ash. His business was not just his livelihood, but a symbol of his hard work. My father has worked countless hours for his customers and community, and was the sole provider for his family.


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<div><strong>Your donation, no matter the size, will help my father tremendously and would mean the world to my family.</strong> Your generosity would go toward helping  him get back on his feet.


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<div>From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your kindness, support, and prayers during this difficult time.


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<div>If you're unable to donate, please consider sharing this page to help spread the word!


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<div>Thank you,


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<div>Elizabeth Iskander


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Support Rafik Iskander's Business Lost After Eaton Fires

<font color="#333333">Hi everyone we’re trying to raise money for keyiro Fuentes funeral a 14 year old boy who unfortunately didn’t make it out the Lahaina fire, He would be turning 15 this August 20th he had lots of dreams and hopes for his future, we are extremely devastated by this and are trying to lay him to rest like he deserves <br /><br />Hola a todos, estamos tratando de recaudar dinero para el funeral de keyiro Fuentes, un niño de 14 años que desafortunadamente no puedo salir del incendio de Lahaina, cumpliría 15 años este 20 de agosto, tenía muchos sueños y esperanzas para su futuro, estamos extremadamente devastados por esto y estamos tratando de ponerlo a descansar como el se lo merece <br /> </font><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194547885/maui-fires-mother-raced-save-son-lahaina" title=""> <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194547885/maui-fires-mother-raced-save-son-lahaina" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.npr.org/2023/08/18/1194547885/maui-fires-mother-raced-save-son-lahaina</a> </a><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/74676775_1692398371701213_r.jpg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="74676775_1692398371701213_r.jpg" /><br /><br /> Hi everyone to give a little more information, I’m keyiros sister in law. Me and my husband Luis( keyiros oldest brother) have set up this GoFundMe for his parents. As a lot of you may or may not know they don’t know much English so they asked me to help them set up the GoFundMe. This is the one and ONLY page we have set up!!!  The funds go directly to My parents in-law. We really truly appreciate everyone for the love and support we have been receiving!! More updates to come later on in time. Thank you and god bless everyone.

Funeral de keyiro fuentes

Pachamama Sabia

<div>In many parts of the world, innocent children are facing a heart-wrenching crisis of hunger. They come from families who are struggling to make ends meet, leaving these precious young ones without the basic nourishment they need to survive. This silent struggle not only weakens their physical health but also hinders their ability to learn and succeed in life.
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<div>But, we can be their hope. Last year, thanks to our partnership with the Cora Blue Fund and the generosity of 37 kind-hearted donors, we were able to raise just over $6200 for the Olamororoi School in Kenya. With this contribution, the school was able to provide lunch for the entire year for the first time ever and make much-needed repairs to the school infrastructure. The children's attendance and grades soared and so did their spirits.
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<div>This year, with increasing food prices, we have set our sights higher, aiming to raise $10,000 and double our donor size. With your help, and support of Cora Blue, we can provide nutritious meals to the children at school (breakfast and lunch) giving them the energy and focus they need to learn and grow. Additionally, we will be able to fix and replace damaged and outdated classroom furniture, creating a more comfortable learning environment for them and facilitate participation in extracurricular activities.
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<div>Every donation, big or small, can help change the life of a child in need. With your support, we can make a real difference in the lives of these children and give them a chance at a brighter future. Please, open your heart and donate today.
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Feeding the Children of Olamororoi

<div>Hi, my name is Kyle Kesterson. I have established this GoFundMe to help my mother, Tamera, and her passionate endeavor of rescuing dogs from being euthanized.



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<div><em>Donating will help stop 70+ dogs from immediately going back on the euthanasia list and forcibly shutting down her rescue. -- </em><strong><em>A $120 donation sponsors 1 dog</em></strong>



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<div>In her 13+ years of rescuing, rehabilitating, medically treating and rehoming over 4,200 abandoned, abused, injured and given-up dogs, she has not seen anything like what has happened during and after the pandemic. With shelters and rescues being at 3-4x over capacity, the results are overwhelming and crippling the rescue world. Yet, through it all, my mother has worked tirelessly to avoid this from happening to such a degree. Still, she has reached a moment that needs the community to come together to keep providing this invaluable, life-saving service for these animals.



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<div>If you’d like to skip the background information, you can jump down to ‘<strong>DETAILS OF THE REQUESTED SUPPORT</strong>.’ Thank you so much for reading.



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<div><strong>OVERVIEW OF DOG RESCUE</strong>



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<div>For many years, there has been a significant need for adoptions of homeless and abandoned dogs, typically given up to 30 days before being placed on a “last call” euthanasia list. Today, so many dogs are surrendered, or abandoned strays brought to shelters that they have hardly a week before being euthanized. Whatever dogs have been there the longest are at risk. This often includes full-term pregnant dogs and puppies only days old.



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<div>Shelters are where discarded, injured, abandoned, and otherwise unwanted dogs typically end up. They are the most publicly visible, having direct relationships with Animal Control and being funded by the county or city. As shelters are overwhelmed beyond capacity, it is up to small, independently run rescues to alleviate their burden. These rescues are private organizations of people that volunteer because of their heart for animals and their welfare.



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<div><em>The current rate of euthanasia throughout the country is 4,000 to 10,000 animals per day, with 9 out of 10 being healthy, adoptable pets. Conservative reports state that 11 to 25 million animals each year are euthanized.</em>



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<div>Due to the pandemic and post-pandemic overwhelm, many facilities and shelters are closing their doors because they can no longer help at the capacity needed, and the financial burden has become too great. Through it all, I watch my mother work tirelessly to avoid this from happening. The only way she can continue is for the community to come together to keep providing this invaluable, life-saving service for these animals.



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<div><strong>ABOUT HER RESCUE K9RR</strong>



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<div>On average, Tamera's rescue <a href="https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%252525255B0%252525255D=WA497&amp;sort%252525255B0%252525255D=recently_added" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">K9RR Rescue &amp; Rehabilitation</a> finds homes for 280-350 per year but will place over 400 dogs this year.



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<div>She is popularly known as one of the few rescues which takes the dogs that all other shelters and rescues reject, often due to behavior issues or medical expenses. This includes dogs that require long-term behavior modification to be adoptable and completely feral dogs that have never been domesticated. For example, she has had some dogs for up to 4 years before being ready and able to find the perfect match, including a brother/sister pair of Pitbulls, or two blind German Shepherds she still has. Some dogs she knows she’ll never find a home for, she adopts herself, two of which she’s had the entire 13 years she’s been running the rescue.



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<div>Her work days for years of 10 hrs have become grueling 15+hr days, seven days a week all year with no time off, and it personally devastates me to see her unable to rest while also sinking further into debt. It seems that no matter how hard she works and how many dogs she saves, the need is too great, and the expenses keep multiplying.



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<div><strong>K9RR RESCUE BY THE NUMBERS</strong>



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<div>For 2022, her total operating expenses are approximately $187,000. Between adoption fees and donor support, up to the point of this GoFundMe, the rescue has generated $161,000.



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<div>Her typical adoption fees range from $200-$600.



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<div>Spays and neuters, required on all dogs who don’t have them, for her are $300-$350. For the general public, these surgeries are now $600-$1000.



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<div>Other standard expenses include microchipping, flea and worm treatments, dental work, nail clipping, vaccines, food, dog beds, shampoos and detergents, toys, treats, and grooming.



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<div>Then there are the more significant case-by-case expenses, including amputations (7 already this year), antibiotics for infections, heart medications, x-rays, echocardiograms, severe dental work, cancer medications, hip replacements, prosthetics and more. She has also had to take four dogs to various specialists, such as the cardiologist and others, to the 24hr care vet hospital for Parvovirus treatment. When she hospitalizes a dog for the deadly Parvovirus, it costs $3,000 to help heal them and prevent a contagious spreading.



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<div><strong>EXTERNAL SUPPORTERS</strong>



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<div>Luckily Tamera has developed an incredible relationship with Dr. Ivy Engstrom, DVM, at A Valley Vet in Auburn, Washington. For years Dr. Engstrom has offered discounts to the rescue that my mother could not find elsewhere, which has saved over $125,000 just this year. Dr. Engstrom even comes in on weekends and squeezes my mom’s rescue dogs in any available window to help keep up with the need. Despite the massive bill, Dr. Engstrom continues to let her bring dogs in for services. She also allows her pay down her bill by coming in a few hours each week to support at the vet clinic in between taking care of the rescue.



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<div>Tamera also has a couple of external private donors who understand my mother’s service and have been a fantastic support. From providing a vehicle for her to transport dogs in, reducing her recent vet bill already by $16k, and one that puts dogs directly on her bill at the vet, which has covered another $30k+ in expenses.



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<div>If it weren’t for these supporters and this vet, she would have had to close down the rescue years ago.



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<div><strong>DETAILS OF THE REQUESTED SUPPORT</strong>



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<li><strong>Goal 1: $27,000</strong> - Immediate vet balance

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<li>Goal 2: $54,540 - Includes upcoming scheduled vet services



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<div>My mother’s rescue currently has a remaining balance of $27,000 for the vet services, which has to be closed out by the end of the year, as the vet is changing ownership, and she has to start with a 0 balance. Otherwise, she loses the ability to bring dogs in for services, which means losing the ability to rescue dogs from the euthanasia lists.



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<div>Goal 1 is the core expense of what we are trying to find support with now.



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<div>Starting in January, she has $27,540 worth of services scheduled in the first three months and will need to come up with this secondary amount, so this is my desired stretch goal for her and the dogs.



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<div>Currently, she has scheduled:



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<li>35 spay/neuters ($12,250)



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<li>2 amputations ($5,200)



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<li>an operation to help a blind dog gain eyesight ($6,500),



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<li>about $3,500 in shots, microchips, fleas, dewormer and fecal tests.



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<div><strong>IN CLOSING</strong>



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<div>In her 13 years of doing this, she has never asked for or would have allowed a public effort like this. But given the unique circumstances with the pandemic return rates and what is at stake, I feel this is the appropriate time to ask.



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<div><strong><em>We would be incredibly grateful to receive any of your financial support, and if you could pass this link along to your family, friends, and social media, we would be greatly humbled and so appreciative.</em></strong>



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<div>Thank you so much!



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Urgent: Keep dog rescue operating, keep dogs alive

<div>    Our dear friend John “Johnny Diamond“ Khalil was recently involved in a serious auto accident while in Mexico. He was hit by a moving bus while riding a moped, and is amazingly still alive. As if this weren’t enough, John faced a harrowing experience with hospitals, authorities, and logistics of returning to the United States on top of this. We are asking John‘s extended family and community to come together to help John heal in this critical time.
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<div>    John was house sitting in the south eastern corner of Mexico and was supposed to be there until mid October. Upon arriving in Mexico his phone was stolen on the bus he was taking from the airport. Obviously this caused a lot of complications but as his time was slotted for fishing, diving and exploring it wasn’t such a big deal. After a few weeks he traveled to Tulum. He and another person had rented a moped to go about 2 miles to the beach. They entered the main road and were merging when the handlebars took a hard left and John crossed over the median into oncoming traffic. A city bus going about 40mph hit them directly head on and the right side of John’s head hit the bus windshield and both riders were sent flying. John’s passenger luckily had more scratches and less damaging injuries and was able to assist John who had a giant gash in his head, several broken ribs and collarbone, a broken nose, knee and leg and road rash all over.
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<div>    Eventually John was taken by ambulance an hour away to Playa Del Carmen where he sat on a stretcher for three hours and was eventually given a quick x-ray, wound cleaning and stitches. The National Guard police took him back to Tulum where the municipal police attempted to arrest him and tried to extort money while he was still covered in blood and had no real medical attention. After 6.5 hours they let him go to another hospital where his chest was x-rayed for the broken ribs and collarbone. Part of the hardware already inside the left collarbone from a previous injury had come undone and the ribs were broken very precariously and poking into the lungs and top of stomach.
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<div>    After 3 hours the police took him back to the station and threw him in a jail cell with no medical attention, food, water or communication for seven hours. To top it off he was put in a cell the size of a handicap toilet w a man who had just murdered several people at a street fair the day before. The cops eventually extorted $1200 and a payment had to be made to the moped rental company as well as the bus company. After two days of healing John headed back to the United States however incurred a really bad infection from his wounds and was incapacitated for several days. He finally made it to Illinois and is under the care of his family and getting medical attention, which has been ongoing for the last 8 days. 
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<div>    We hope that launching this go fund me campaign can help alleviate some of the financial burden this event has caused John and his family. They have already spent a huge sum for medical bills in Mexico, payoffs, and getting John back into the country, and John will require at least two more surgeries. With your help and love we hope to soon get John back on his feet proverbially and literally. Much love and gratitude!
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Relief for Johnny Diamond

<a href="https://hormigon-armado.wixsite.com/lustrabotas/copy-of-help-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">TEXT IN ENGLISH</a>  -  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsRM65lj4YE" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">VIDEO IN ENGLISH</a>  -   *También se puede depositar al No. de cuenta 1000226145 - Fundación Arte y Culturas Bolivianas - NIT 140545021 del Banco Nacional de Bolivia<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oor9LlSv118&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;fbclid=IwAR0VuyQ7Yc9G4TpZXHm9sxU9gYCtXsfbiyW_vuQvCSaBhEN8NIh6Rp2qI9U" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hormigón Armado</a>  trabaja al servicio de personas en situación vulnerable por más de 15 años.  Nuestro trabajo nos mereció la mayor <strong>Condecoración del Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de La Paz, “Prócer Pedro Domingo Murillo”</strong>, además de reconocimientos de la Defensoría del Pueblo, El Consejo Permanente de Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas, el Ministerio de Justicia entre otros. Hormigón Armado inspiró a muchos medios incluyendo a <strong>la BBC, The Guardian, TV3 France, El País, AlJazeera, CNN, CCTV</strong> y más.  Usted puede conocernos mejor viendo sus reportajes reunidos en el siguiente enlace:  hormigon-armado.wixsite.com/lustrabotas/videos-eng<br /><br />Hoy nuestros recursos para continuar se están agotando además de haber sido fuertemente golpeados por la crisis de la actual pandemia del COVID-19.  Paralelamente a acciones que estamos desarrollando con éxito para conseguir alimentos e insumos de bioseguridad para nuestro Colectivo, en emergencia ante el peligro de cerrar, hacemos este llamado de solidaridad.  <br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmRQCwPS2c0Hk6PQb77JUQ" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">YOUTUBE</a>   - <a href="http://facebook.com/hormigon.armado" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FACEBOOK</a>  -   <a href="http://instagram.com/el_hormigon_armado" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">INSTAGRAM</a>   - <a href="http://hormigon-armado.wix.com/lustrabotas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PÁGINA WEB</a> <br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmRQCwPS2c0Hk6PQb77JUQ" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmRQCwPS2c0Hk6PQb77JUQ</a><br /><br />CONTEXTO<br />La niñez y juventud en Bolivia enfrenta grandes desafíos para su desarrollo.  El país duplica el promedio regional de <strong>embarazos adolescentes con 247 registrados diariamente</strong> y con fuerte relación a la <strong>violencia que causa hasta 1/3 de ellos</strong>.  Las oportunidades económicas escasean ante mucha necesidad. El <strong>57,6% de personas entre 7 y 17 años trabajan y el 87,4% de los jóvenes entre 16 y 28 años trabaja en el mercado informal</strong> donde existe mucha explotación, entre ellas las personas que viven en las calles o generan desde ellas medios de vida marginales, experimentan las violaciones más extremas a sus derechos humanos. La <strong>exclusión de la educación y salud, el VIH-SIDA, adicciones, la discriminación y la violencia son alarmantes</strong>, muchas personas encuentran en las calles un espacio incluso más seguro que su propio hogar.  La pandemia del COVID-19 agudizará fuertemente la exclusión y desigualdades, incluidas las de género; más que nunca, urge la solidaridad. <br /><br />El HORMIGÓN ARMADO<br />Hormigón Armado no es un proyecto de caridad sino una propuesta de<strong> desarrollo y solidaridad</strong> que trabaja en sociedad con personas hacia sus propias metas para romper ciclos de pobreza, exclusión y violencia.  Acompañamos la generación de oportunidades económicas con un trabajo social integral, personal y familiar.  Somos un Colectivo/Asociación que reúne a <strong>más de un centenar</strong> de lustra-calzados, limpia-parabrisas, vendedores ambulantes, personas en situación de calle y sus familias, con participación democrática para trabajar al servicio de las personas que nuestra sociedad empujó a sus espacios más peligrosos.  Hemos apoyado a cientos de niñ@s y jóvenes y sus familias colaborando en <strong>salud, apoyo legal, becas, oportunidades económicas y trabajo social integral.</strong> Nuestros esfuerzos se centran en lustra-calzados, un sector que destaca al cubrirse el rostro con pasamontañas contra la discriminación, además de trabajadores informales y la población sin hogar.  Para llevar adelante nuestro trabajo en la defensa de los derechos humanos hemos desarrollado los siguientes programas. <br /><br />Medios de Vida y Reducción de la Pobreza<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o97ULmVcfU&amp;list=PLZ-pbRNklRgmys-AIP5u1y3sH7NRyTCzm&amp;index=12" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hormigón Armado El Periódico de los Lustracalzados</a>  producido y publicado por l@s miembr@s del Colectivo junto a artistas y escritores con temática de derechos humanos, medio ambiente, género, arte y cultura.  <strong>78 ediciones</strong> han vendido más de <strong>350 mil copias</strong>, generando más de <strong>un cuarto de un millón de dólares US$</strong> de ingresos directos para quienes lo venden.  Liderando una campaña masiva de recolección de papel nuestro periódico es <strong>impreso en papel reciclado</strong> y se ha convertido en un medio necesario para transmitir la voz de quienes integran el Colectivo.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9sMtADGlsg&amp;list=PLZ-pbRNklRgmys-AIP5u1y3sH7NRyTCzm&amp;index=9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emprendimientos en gastronomía y catering</a>  incluyen una Unidad Productiva instalada desde el 2016 que produce <strong>5,000 Kilos de galletas/mes</strong> para el Subsidio Nacional de Maternidad.  En ella trabajan mujeres superando situaciones de violencia, trata y situación de calle.  Además de recibir apoyo social sus hij@s reciben apoyo escolar mientras ellas trabajan. También están en desarrollo <strong>4 laboratorios de emprendimientos socio productivos</strong> incluyendo una pizzería, repostería y otra unidad productiva de alimentos.  <br /><br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/videos/spanish/2017/04/17/cnnee-pkg-nuestro-mundo-gloria-carrasco-la-paz-limpiabotas-ciudad-maravilla-guias.cnn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hormigón Armado Tours de los Lustracalzados</a>  es un servicio muy popular recomendado en la Guía Lonely Planet, CNN, BBC y otros.  Los guías muestran un lado particular de la ciudad, sus usos y costumbres.  Otros emprendimientos incluyen la producción de <strong>artesanías, postales, producción y venta del álbum de hip hop de lustra-calzados y personas en situación de calle</strong> y otra producción artística-audio-visual. <br /><br />Educación<br />Desarrollo de habilidades de vida reduciendo la brecha de acceso a la <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEbThd9HmHs&amp;index=3&amp;list=PLZ-pbRNklRgmys-AIP5u1y3sH7NRyTCzm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Educación</a> .  Incluyen decenas de <strong>BECAS</strong> con apoyo familiar para educación técnica y profesional fundamentales para romper ciclos intergeneracionales de pobreza.  Se han realizado más de <strong>700 TALLERES SEMANALES</strong> para el Colectivo que abordan temática de salud sexual y reproductiva, habilidades de vida y el empoderamiento económico, impartidas por instituciones aliadas y profesionales temáticos.  También se ofrece <strong>APOYO ESCOLAR</strong> a niñ@s que hacen malabares entre la escuela y sus necesidades económicas con tutoría académica, espacio de trabajo y materiales.<br /><br />Programas de Apoyo Familiar, Salud, Legal y Género Transformador<br />La/os miembros del colectivo acceden a apoyo en salud en casos de emergencia que <strong>salvaron un gran número de vidas</strong>; se realizan importantes recaudaciones para cubrirlos.  También se brinda apoyo psico-social y familiar para sobrepasar situaciones de violencia en asociación con instituciones, hospitales y alianzas profesionales que incluyen apoyo legal. <br /><br />El patriarcado y la violencia son los obstáculos más importantes identificados por el Colectivo para superar la exclusión. Lo abordamos de manera transversal y permanente con todo el Colectivo y con proyectos específicos enfáticos en la formación de las mujeres del Colectivo como <strong>replicadores comunitarias en temática de violencia, género y derechos sexuales y reproductivos</strong>.  Los esfuerzos en ejecución actualmente están priorizando generar emprendimientos con capital semilla y apoyo técnico para mujeres saliendo de situaciones de violencia o en necesidad de independencia económica.<br /><br />RECAUDACIÓN<br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeJeN-GLycA&amp;index=1&amp;list=PLZ-pbRNklRgmys-AIP5u1y3sH7NRyTCzm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hormigón Armado</a>  es efectivo y eficiente, llegamos a mucha gente con bajos costos al complementarnos con una red de organizaciones de voluntariado y alianzas estratégicas.  <br /><br />Sin embargo, hoy nuestros recursos fueron fuertemente afectados imposibilitándonos continuar sosteniendo al Hormigón Armado.  Con el corazón por delante, hoy apelamos a su solidaridad.  El éxito de esta recaudación no solo <strong>permitirá sostener nuestro sueño los siguientes años</strong> si no que también nos permitirá la contraparte necesaria para <strong>importantes recursos de Cooperación del Desarrollo</strong> que tocan nuestras puertas. Esta alianza nos permitirá catapultarnos a una escala maravillosa a favor de quienes más lo necesitan.<br /><br />Reciba nuestra invitación a unirse a este hermoso esfuerzo de solidaridad para la superación de personas en situaciones muy difíciles.   <strong>#SalvemosAlHormigonArmado<br /><br />Por su donación recibirá:<br /><br />Desde 20 US$<br /></strong>Copias Digitales de 20 Números Selectos del Periódico Hormigón Armado<br />Subscripción digital al Periódico Hormigón Armado<br />CD de Líricos Lleca y El Imaginario Dub Soundsystem- Hip Hop de Lustra-calzados y Personas en Situación de Calle<strong><br /><br />Desde 50 US$<br /></strong>Pack de CDs de Música Boliviana de bandas amigas del Hormigón Armado<br />Documental "Brillo" sobre los Lustra-calzados de La Paz y El Hormigón Armado + Otro material audio visual<strong><br /><br />Desde 100 US$<br /></strong>Paquete de Fotografías del Hormigón Armado en colaboración con vari@s fotograf@s<strong><br /><br />Desde 200 US$<br /></strong>Informe Anual Programático y Financiero<br />Patrocinio con seguimiento y contacto personalizado con miembros del Colectivo y el desarrollo de sus planes de vida<strong><br /></strong>

Salvemos al Hormigón Armado

<p><strong><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/40346152_1583707200294556_r.jpeg" alt="40346152_1583707200294556_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />Please find us on at our new donation site on <br /><a href="https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/immigrant-families-together-general-fund" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">GoFundMe Charity</a> </strong>
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<p><strong><br />GOOD NEWS!</strong> Thanks to GoFundMe.org’s generous support,  we now have a way for your donations to be tax deductible to the fullest extent of the tax code!<br /><br />Immigrant Families Together was founded in June 2018 in response to the inhumane immigration policy separating families at the U.S./Mexico border. We pay bonds for parents in detention and work to reunite them with their children. Additionally, we support over 100 reunited families as they recover from their detention trauma and adjust to life in the U.S. while their asylum cases are adjudicated.<br /><br /><br />HOW WE USE DONATIONS:                         <br />- Pay bonds to release detained immigrants.<br />- Legal and relocation costs for related detained immigrants.<br />- Acute needs such as medical, food and transportation costs, clothing, blankets, car seats and diapers for families who have been released, and temporary housing stipends for refugees who have just been released from detention and have no family in the U.S.<br />- Supporting our partners on the border with their critical needs.<br />- Operating costs to cover emerging needs and infrastructure.<br /><br />All funds will be withdrawn by GoFundMe.org and then transferred to IFT outside of the platform.<br /><br />Thank you for your generosity and support.<br /><br /><em><a href="https://www.gofundme.org/">GoFundMe.org</a> is proud to act as fiscal sponsor to Immigrant Families Together, given the important charitable services it is providing to an important charitable class of people.  GoFundMe.org is a 501c3 non-profit organization (EIN #81-2279757) and solely responsible for the collection and management of your donations in support of the charitable services described here.  All donations may be eligible for tax-exemption, and GoFundMe.org will issue donation receipts on a quarterly basis. <br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/40346152_1568312906160779_r.jpeg" alt="40346152_1568312906160779_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br /></em>
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Immigrant Families Together General Fund

Hi folks. Our friends and fellow martial Arts family Jeremia and Guelsey Stanley. ( along with their two boys ) have lost their home in the camp fire in paradise...lets show them that the love is thicker than the smoke.

Lost it all in the camp fire

Eric Burke is one of the finest human beings and artists I know.  Without exaggeration, he has one of the most pure, kind-hearted spirits of anyone I've ever met.  He is a man of unwavering integrity, he is a committed and loyal friend, brother and son, and he is a talented artist who has sacrificed immensely in order to pursue his dream.  He is one of my best friends and he is like a big brother to me.<br /><br /><img class="not-resizeable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/24553902_1507655008.0176_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />￼<br />Sonoma County has been devastated by tragic fires over the past several days. I had to evacuate my home in the middle of the night, as did thousands upon thousands of other residents. Eric lives just up the hill from me, and his house was in the direct path of one of the fires. <br /><br /><img class="not-resizeable" src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bhTGQL_tyZA/hqdefault.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />￼<br />The police woke Eric and his brother up in the middle of the night, and told them they had 5 minutes to get out of the house. He grabbed his phone, his wallet, a toothbrush and a notebook I gave him to write notes for a one-man show he has been creating. These are now his only possessions.  <br /><br />There are no words to describe how heartbroken I am for Eric.  He would never, EVER ask for help. In fact, he'd be the first to offer it even if he didn't have it to give. Eric needs clothes, food, basic necessities and a new home.  <br /><br />If you are a friend, family member or student of mine, I know you would help me if I needed it (and so many of you already have!!!).  By the grace of God, my home is still standing. But Eric lost everything and he is family to me, so I am asking for you to please consider donating to help my dear brother get back on his feet after this horrible, life-altering tragedy.  <br /><br />Jim and I spoke to Eric this morning, and in classic Eric style, he said, "So many people are a lot worse off than I am. I'm alive and my family is alive and that's all that matters. And I got your notebook, Melissa!"  God bless you, my friend. You inspire me, and we are going to get you back on your feet in no time.  We love you.  I love you.<br /><br />(*Eric has requested that I handle the withdrawal of any donations since he does not have a computer and he and Brad have so many things to deal with as they wrap their heads and hearts around the reality of what they've lost. So I will be withdrawing the funds from this campaign and I will give Eric all of the money immediately after withdrawing.)<br /><br /><img class="not-resizeable" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/24553902_1507655208.8301_funddescription.jpeg" alt="" width="100%" />￼

Support Eric after devastating fire

As you may know, unfortunately, Maria Isabel is battling stage IV breast cancer. <br /><br />She's kicking ass - after a few months of chemo, there is no trace of cancer left in her liver or bones and her tumor has been reduced to less than 1/3 of its size.<br /><br />Since things are looking so promising, she and her amazing fiance are moving forward with their wedding this October. I say amazing because he truly is a top-notch man: he has been her rock and support system for the past few months. <br /><br />Ronit spoke with her to hear about the wedding plans and as excited and happy as she is, there was a dark cloud above it all... her brothers won't be attending which has really broken her heart.<br /><br />The tickets from Bolivia to Thailand are too expensive and they can't afford to fly there. They're each about $2000.<br /><br />So Ronit thought about the brilliant idea to  start a fundraising campaign to get Maria the best wedding present ever: her brothers at her wedding :)<br /><br />Maria has no idea about this - We want to keep it a surprise.<br /><br />So what do you think?  Would you be open to helping make this a successful crowdfunding campaign? Please give what you can and share with others who might be able to support this gift.

Natalie Conneely

Natalie Conneely

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