UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who came out to support me and my mom. We had a fabulous turnout and raised about $3,000! Mom has a party report on her blog.
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Sunday, December 30
8 p.m. Cocktails and Snacks
10 p.m. Musical Performances by Christopher O'Riley, Sam Newsome, and my husband Ethan
Suggested Donation: $20
ABOUT THE DONATION: If you can afford more, please give more. All donations are fully tax deductible and benefit New Directions Support Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit.
BONUSES FOR BIG SPENDERS: I'm offering the same reward tiers as I did for my Kickstarter supporters: $100 gets you a private personal training or yoga/massage session. $500 gets you a catered dinner party (5-course tasting menu for up to 10 guests or buffet party for 30. You pay for ingredients, I shop, cook, and clean).
ABOUT THE CAUSE: When I was nine years old and my brother was seven, our single mother had a psychotic episode and was committed to a state mental hospital. This terrifying ordeal might have destroyed us, but my mother used it as an inspiration to heal herself and help others. She got her master's degree in group therapy and started a support group to help those in danger of falling through the cracks.
Twenty-six years later, New Directions is the largest support group in the Philadelphia area and has helped thousands of people suffering from bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, Asperger's, AIDS, and other illnesses. My mother is a loud voice in the media and with elected officials, working to combat stigma and make life better for those who suffer from mental illness.
Two years after I gave her my kidney (renal failure is a side effect of lithium), Mom is still going strong. Every dollar of your donation helps give her a living wage and supports the life-saving programming of New Directions.
For more information, or to make a Paypal gift online, see:
