Support For Courtney Fund is Now Open

Hi Everybody,

A photo illustration of Court, I plan on using it for a new intro to the site

The reports from Julie tonight are very positive, I can't believe how far Courtney's come and that we're already talking about next steps after Boston. Since I'm back up in Burlington for the time being, reading the commentary to these posts gives even more insight into her daily progress.

The fundraising meeting went really well tonight, it's encouraging to have new faces (again, everyone is welcome at next Wednesday's meeting at 5:30 in Morrill Hall). The big news part 1: We've now established a non-profit fund called Support For Courtney, so those for of you who've been chomping at the bit to send in a check, feel free to make it out to "Support For Courtney" and mail here:

Chittenden Bank

Dudley H. Davis Center

University of Vermont

590 Main Street

Burlington, VT 05402

I'll also add the address to the side rail above the Boston hospital address, an online donation form through Paypal is also in the works as well.

To our first donors I would like to let you know that in addition to having money to pay off Courtney's medical bills, we also are in need of a fundraising budget. If potential donors could chime in on this: I'd like to use the first $1,000 we raise as the budget for Support For Courtney's which would be used, frugally, to cover our promotional costs (along the lines of posters, stickers, fliers, T-shirts, etc.). Every penny thereafter will go into a savings account to cover Courtney's medical expenses, as advertised. Does this sound reasonable?

The big news part 2: We are looking at planning one main fundraiser each season and for this fall we are planning a concert, what do you guys think of calling it the inaugural Show of Support (a lame concert name based on our lame web site name)? Thus far we're in the beginning stages and in case anyone out there has any connections we will need the basics:

A venue - ideally Higher Ground or Nectar's, there's access to the Davis Center as well.

A band(s) and crew - we've had responses from close friends of Court who are in bands, if anyone else wants to throw their hat in the ring let us know (and if anyone knows Snoop Dogg, let him know what we're up to, maybe we could pay him by the pound). We're also going to need people to hand out fliers or take collections at the concert.

A date and time - looking at early to mid-December, in between the college's Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. Likely on a Thursday, the 6th/13th or Sunday night, the 9th/16th. Does one date work better than the others?

We'll look to spread the word via media and the Web site, we also have folks working on designs for posters, T-shirts and collection jars. And as always, we are open to new ideas. The structure of the non-profit is shaping up and I feel we have a strong foundation. To have such active participation for a cause that isn't even two months old says a lot about the character of Court's friends.

We miss you Court, just keep doing your thing, you're the one who's really leading the way

-Sean