First, thank you to every gentlemen and lady who called tonight offering ideas, help, resources and condolences for Manae.

I spoke to Manae about a half hour ago. She has secured a Tax ID which is necessary to set up a bereavement account and the account number will be available and posted here tomorrow. The donation is TAX DEDUCTIBLE. I will also be working with someone on a memorial website where you may donate through paypal if you cannot get to Bank of America during the day. The paypal account will be linked directly to the Bereavement Memorial so your paypal donation will also be TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

Right now Manae is facing upwards of $12,000 in funeral costs and as August 1st rolls around, she's facing rent, electricity, etc. Any and all help is both immensely appreciated and necessary for her survival at present.

I have put her in touch with an organization that can help her with therapy and support and can also help the two other children who witnessed this most tragic event. Plans are in the works for a few fundraisers. Manae or I will keep you abreast of those plans as they solidify.

If any of you know of any organization that offers free, long-term grief counselling for adults who have lost children and/or for children who've witnessed tragic events, I am begging you to please call me so I can pass this information onto her. I have spent the last 7 hours researching and thus far, I've come up with one grassroots organization specifically dedicated to helping grieving parents.

I will also be in touch with a non-profit coordinator for ideas and help and anyone interested may contact me for any information whether it applies to this situation or another.

Lastly, Manae is holding it together far better than I ever could. She is gracious and amazed at the community support and outpouring and she asked me to personal thank all of you for your thoughts, prayers and help. I want to thank you as well as I am overwhelmed with out community. I've been reduced to tears several times tonight simply because of phone calls from the many gentlemen in this and other communities calling with ideas and support. Thank you from the bottom of my heart as both a mother and an escort. I am touched.

Please look for a post with information for donation tomorrow around noon.

Thank you all in advance for your generosity, support, concern, love and prayers for a lady who is new to our community and whom many of us have never met. If we have learned anything from this, it should be that we have an amazing community of good-hearted people who are willing to pull together for each other when the time comes. Today is is Ms. Manae who needs our help, tomorrow it may be you. Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. We are all blessed.

Most graciously,

Megan
602.821.3388


-- Modified on 7/28/2005 10:46:45 PM