Heartfelt Assistance

-2 days to departure


We continue to be amazed and invigorated by the support we are getting from places we never expected. The first example is with our GoFundMe campaign. Around dinner time yesterday I was checking our GFM site for the 345th time that day, and there was this entry: 

Yes, you read that right. GFM themselves pitched in $1000 to our campaign. Wow! Within minutes Tim and I were on the phone, floored by our good fortune. However, to be honest, there was a touch of shared cynicism between us. Could this be true? Is this really something GFM does? Might this really be a mean practical joke?

Tim, being the prudent guy he is, followed up with the fine people at GFM and got back this reply:

Hi Tim, 

Thanks for getting back to me!

You are absolutely correct. GoFundMe will, from time to time, select campaigns to donate $1000 to, in order to show our support for those people who make the most of our product, and who are raising money for great causes! We never provide this money on request, and so it always comes as a nice surprise! So don't worry, this is completely legitimate!

Not to be outdone, today, Friday, we received another, equally stunning entry on the GFM page: 

Double wow!

Within minutes, both Tim and I zipped off emails to Karen Dale, the Head of School at Delphi LA:

3:04 PM

K, 

I LOVE YOU!

Colin

3:06 PM

Very mutual my friend. SOOOO proud of you and excited for you! :))))))

K

~~

3:08 PM

Karen, 

Wow!!! It's official, the Delphi LA Student Council, any staff also instrumental in this phenomenal power flow, and you have all fully lost your minds! Not that this is a bad thing at all, but just sayin'!!!!

I am so blown-away by this, words don't suffice.

Thank you so much!!!

Best wishes,

Tim

3:09 PM

Yes, we are very proud of the fact that we are a bit crazy. :)

Love you and so proud of you.

OXOX

~~

But that's not all. We received support from one Rachael Durocher, who happens to be the Chief Cameraman for SMP, and yet another of Tim's very helpful and very competent friends. Rachael offered her professional "tech support" via email on the proper camera and settings and equipment and such we'll need to properly document our adventure. Documentarian is another key function of mine for this endeavor, hence the advice from Rachael. 

But, to take this "tech support" one step further, tonight Xane and I visited Gavin Morrison at the Fort Harrison Hotel for a 30-minute crash course in "Photography and Videography for Humanitarian Projects". Gavin is a) a friend I've known for a few years, b) a Delphian alumni, c) a cohort of Rachael's who works in Clearwater, d) a professional videographer par excellence.  

We're getting heartfelt assistance from very caring and able people who want us to succeed with flying colors. This bodes well for an effective and triumphant project. 

Thank you!

Until tomorrow...