Im writing this note today to ask for help from my artist friends here on Facebook, to help a very sick little girl.
Many of you know the story of Leah Esquenazi, commonly known as Princess Leah.
For those of you who do not, please go here:
http://princessleahdiaries.blogspot.com/
Leah is almost a year old now, and her illness is still confounding doctors and specialists all over Southern California. She still endures mini seizures and tremors, lives off a feeding tube, and requires a vent to breathe. She still has trouble with her vision and needs special glasses. She is undergoing physical therapy to try to grow stronger as well.
Leahs expenses are skyrocketing. Electric bills are running almost $400 per month, and Zev and Franis apartment is starting to have electrical trouble due to Leahs machinery. And now, their insurance company is making things worse, by not providing vital equipment Leah needs for support, including a backup ventilator and a wheelchair for her to get around in with her parents. Even keeping nurses on staff is becoming difficult.
Yet through it all, Princess Leah keeps fighting and smiling, and winning hearts around the world.
In an effort to raise money for Leah, Im embarking on an Art Auction. Thanks to many artists whose work Ive already received, Ive got a good start, but to truly make an impact I need to ask for donations from the artists community.
This is what weve received already. All the art weve received has been stored in art portfolios securely until we can get these items auctioned. Take a look at whats here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/briekalan/sets/72157628255598705/
While I had planned to have this auction already completed, life has just gotten in the way, but now its my priority to get this moving forward.
What I am looking for is original works of art, prints, sketch cards, autographed books, etc that we can auction off to benefit Leah and her family. Size matters not. If youre in the lower 10 counties of Southern California, Ill come get it from you to save shipping. Even the smallest of donations could bring in something big for her family. The art can be any subject, and doesnt necessarily have to be Star Wars related, although many of us are fans of the genre.
We also need help shipping items out to the winners, if a sponsor can be found to cover these costs.
Lastly, once the auctions are live, Ill need help to spread the word as far and as wide as we can through websites, social media, press releases, etc.
These Auctions are planned to be done through eBay, however Ive recently received an offer to host a reception to show off these works that Ill be exploring as well (Thank you Geeky Mamas). I am aiming for an auction date of March 25th. All auctions will last 14 days and then the highest bidder takes the prize. I will need to get all donations by March 15th, so that I have time to catalogue and prep them for auction.
Some of you that I have tagged have already donated, and for that I thank you with all of my heart. Others of you I've added because you are artists, others because you are bloggers, and yet others of you are tagged because youve been helping me with this project already or because you are a very close friend of mine who can help me spread the word. Id like to thank Amy Sawyer for all her help that shes given already to get these donations! Id also like to thank Zev and Frani for allowing me to do this for them, and just for being the awesome strong people they are.
If you can help, comment here, OR email me at
briekalan@gmail.com
Please help me assist this precious little one and her family so that they can get what they need to keep up the fight.
Blessings on you all
