Goal met!

Sharing one more update regarding the recent online auction to share the happy news that we met our goal!

Since the auction ended, SEVEN more pieces from José’s art collection have been claimed which has brought the total proceeds to just over $5,000–the goal amount we hoped to add to the FAJARDO STUDENT INTERNSHIP FUND at Hawai‘i Public Radio.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

Since there’s a continued slow but steady trickle of inquiries about the art that remains, the page with the additional art will continue to be updated until all pieces are claimed (or until mid-December, whichever comes sooner), at which time the proceeds will be gifted to Hawai‘i Public Radio, with everything over the $5,000 goal being directed to the new Team José nonprofit established earlier this year. And yes, I’ve also been adding new pieces as I find them. There’s so much!

While it’s been a lot of work, it’s also been a treat to send off each package. José would be delighted to know that his art has already been shipped off to friends, family, colleagues, and admirers in Arizona, California, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Maui, and Hawai‘i Island.

Finally, I’ve held off from sharing this here because I didn’t want to detract from the focus on fulfilling José’s wishes, but now that we have I will share that I recently organized a GoFundMe for me. It was something I struggled with and am still greatly humbled by, but it has proven unavoidable. If I can reach this goal in the next two weeks then I’ll be back on stable footing financially now that my business is back in operation.

As far as #TeamJosé’s next steps, there will be more to share once the final few tasks related to the auction are completed. All but two pieces requiring postal delivery have been shipped out, and I hope to begin local deliveries in the next few days.