$5,000 Goal Has Been Met!

Today is a day for change. With Obama as our 44th President, I feel like each breath marks a new beginning. We breathe in new opportunities to help existing and upcoming challenges. With a happy inhalation, I am pleased to announce a final donation to the Fields Family Fund of $3,000! We have reached our initial goal of $5,000 and did so with the help of all those previously mentioned and a big help from Tien Claudio, in association with Thievery Corporation and Marvin.

We THANK YOU Tien for making a bold statement by supporting this cause!

Why Bald?

I am so amazed by the support from all our friends for this fundraiser. Many have donated to give a hand to a family in need in San Francisco. To date we have reached a little over $2,000!!! While $2K was our original goal. I was dreaming of $5K. It doesn't hurt to overachieve!

Some have asked, "Why go bald?" and "How do you know the Fields Family?"
Here's your answer...

Why go Bald?
Shaving my head has proved to be invaluable while trying to live in Paris when I don't speak French. The local merchants are extra nice to me and allow my Spanish/English/French to fly and still serve me with a smile. Although I am afraid that like the merchants, some of you may have thought that I was actually going bald raising funds for Cancer treatments or the like. That is not the case, and I have to eloquently say, "I don't have Cancer. I shaved my head to raise money for a family in San Francisco, basically because I'm not going to run a marathon."... but in French.

Although to the merchants I have been able to respond in French, "pas de sac," as I do carry my own bag and refuse to add another plastic bag to the world's collection (perhaps another movement for another time). At any rate, I'm bald because I was neither going to run a marathon, walk 10 miles, nor swim the Bay. And I am bald to make a loud statement that while we live our normal, everyday lives, at some point there could be a tragic accident, even a homicide, that creeps into our quotidian struggle and which we would have to live with until we learn to cope. So, I am in Paris to live, write, read and cope with my baldness, lack of French, and closure to my tragic past.

Hopefully in the end, we have made one family a little happier.

How do you know the Fields family?
Simple answer: I don't! But I'll tell you the story of how we found them. Yes, "we", or more precisely, Jessica C. In August, I hired Jessica C to help research and find a woman in her early 20's that has gone through a tragic accident, perhaps as a Victim Witness. Jessica was on the prowl. She connected with the D.A.'s office, who led her to the SF Victim Witness Program. They, in turn, suggested the Fields Family and faxed over newspaper clippings for us to begin the project. Jessica endured weeks to months of phone chasing while the Program over-promised support in providing resources from tax deductions to donations. The confusion is understandable, as our grassroots effort is nothing they have ever heard of. No one (except us!) calls up the Victim Witness Program and says, "I want to raise money for a specific person/family and not just the Program itself."

So, Jessica moved on and found another newspaper article that led to the Calvary Hill Community Church, where they began a Fields Family Fund. They too were skeptical of our cause: as we later found out, someone else had done something similar via the Church for the family, but did not share the funds. Shame on them, but that is not how we roll!

Today we want to Thank You for your support. And I want to give a HUGE THANKS to Jessica for her efforts, hard work, and time spent. This fundraiser hasn't been easy for either of us.

We hope you keep reaching out to your community, live strong, love yourself and those close to you, and keep smiling during these trying times.

Special THANKS to the following people and businesses:

Calvary Hill Community Church
The Dubliner
Dalva, the Bar
the entire YouTube Ad Ops Staff
the entire BrassTax crew
Judy L
Seth W
Tony L
Ronnie G
Darby M
Meri G
Gina L
Becky R
Talia D
Jonathan S
Kenji A
Marisa R
Nick G
Rachel C
David L
Carolyn C
Jason H
Aileen B
Stefani S
ShOOey
Matthew K
Josh S
Nick S
Winnie C
Margaret B
Andrea L
Ding Dong
and of course....
JESSICA C

Success!

Last night we held a last-minute benefit at The Dubliner. We had a dedicated keg and a tip jar. Thanks to the generous livers of 30+ attendees we managed to kill the keg and raise $457.75! 

Several others that couldn't manage to attend sent in PayPal donations and we've now reached a donation level of $1532.75. The spirit of altruism in trying times like these is truly uplifting; it is inspiring to know that so many have given to this cause without reservation. One might think support would come slowly given state of the economy, unemployment, and not forgetting the countless requests for support from the political world before this incredibly intense election. I've had many people say that it is easy to support an effort that will directly effect the quality of life for a family that is in such desperate need.

Big thanks to everyone that came out last night. You have our deep gratitude.

If you have any comments that you would like to extend to the Fields family, please leave them here in this blog and we will pass them on to representatives of their church.

Why Kathee Goes Bald

10 Kids

1 Guardian

$5,000

1 Strong, Bald Kathee

May 31st, 2008:

Milika Fields was shot and killed.

31-year-old Milika is survived by her 6 children and their father whose medical condition has left him in a coma since last year.

Milika was exiting the Duboce Street off-ramp at approximately 7:15pm with her 2-year-old twin sons, and her 18-year-old brother when a passenger of a car that pulled along side her minivan opened fire. One of the twin boys and her brother were both injured and Milika was later pronounced dead at S.F. General Hospital.

Fields also had a 12-year-old son, 6-year-old twin daughters, and a 9-year-old son who, "sits motionless all day and gazes at photographs of his mother," said Field's aunt.

These children, and 4 others, are all in the care of a relative of Milika. The family is doing as well as they can but the guardianship of so many children takes a large emotional and financial toll.

What they truly need is a car.

The children need transportation to all the normal places that children go as well as to the hospital to see their father and to grief counseling.

We are going to do our damnedest to help pay for it. Our current fundraising goal is $5,000. We're going to do everything from take collections at the park, to themed parties, to bar fundraisers, to taking bets on a special softball game, and we're open to suggestions!

On November 1st, 2008, this will all culminate at an enormous Halloween celebration where we will collect last-minute funds in person and the exquisite Kathee Claudio will have her head shaved completely bald.

10 Kids

1 Gaurdian

$5,000

1 Strong, Bald Kathee

Please donate.

Victim Witnesses do not receive government funds unless the case is Federal. Relocations and identity changes for local cases are paid out of pocket by the victim.