Friday, February 12, 2010

Raising Money and Hope For a Transguy's Chest, One Band at a Time


Dear Friend:
After my health care providers made it clear they wouldn't help cover the cost of my chest reconstruction, my partner Danny and I debated what to do.
We decided we'd host a concert - we have dear friends who are genius awesome musicians and artists, and we love the space over at the Arts Center in Carrboro. Danny said "we should film it and make the video available for other people who need to fund raise!" 
It occurred to us we might take advantage of our "disadvantage" and raise awareness, and hopefully funds, for other transpeoples' medical costs as well! While this particular ChestFest will be for my surgery, we intend to create a site and some regular events to help our friends and families.
So, on to the juice....
On April 24th, we'll be hosting ChestFest 2010 at the fabulous Art Center in Carrboro, featuring my dear friends Amelia’s Mechanics  fresh from their cd release of “North-South” produced by Jim Avett.
They describe themselves as “an all-female, Americana trio whose instrumentation and vocal harmonies traverse classical, country, and jazz genres resulting in a sound best described as vintage country with a moonshine concerto.”  I’m super excited to introduce them to you and blown away by their generosity.

We're also hot to announce the addition of Miss Mary Wanna, Burlesque Tease extraordinaire, members of The Devoted bellydance collective, and emcee Ava J. rockin the mic!
You may know this already: Gender Identity Disorder is a medical diagnosis. This diagnosis by a mental health care professional gives us access to hormone therapy and surgery – we cannot get this care without medical consent and yet most insurance companies will not cover our care.  
Join me in this journey that I must make with your support. I’m one of the lucky onesmy employers have kept me on my jobs, my friends and family are on my side, and I have a home and a beautiful partnership.
I may not be the first, and I guarantee I won’t be the only transperson in your life. Help me, and let me help others, achieve this goal of alignment.
Please peruse for ways you can participate!
Sincerely, and love,
Sam

YES! I want to help Sam get his surgery, and help others too!!! I’m gonna
·        Write a check! Payable to Kelli DePuy. Mail to Sam Peterson/ChestFest 712 Gomains St. Chapel Hill, 27516
·        Pay on this site (up, right, button "donate") on secure PayPal!


·        Pre-reserve at table for “ChestFest,” featuring the mellifluous and soulful sounds of Amelia’s Mechanics, at the Arts Center, April 24th.  See sponsorship levels below.

·        Make an in-kind donation to our Silent Auction or Raffle of goods, services, art, etc. Advertise your business – we’ll have a slide display of all our sponsors’ names or logos before the show.
·        Attend the event! Ticket sales will start soon, through me, my friends, and the Arts Center, and will be totally affordable. Your presence at this event means the world to me!

BE A PRESENCE AT CHESTFEST!
$$$SPONSORSHIP$$$ -
·        SOUL PATCH $150   2 tickets to ChestFest 2010, your company mentioned on website and on pre-show slide.
·        GOATEE  $300  4 tickets to ChestFest 2010, company logo on website and on pre-show slide.
·        ROYALE $500+ (cash or in-kind) reserved front row table at ChestFest 2010, company logo on website and on pre-show slide, marketing presence at pre-show Silent Auction.
All funds go to support Sam’s surgery. Any monies collected beyond $6,000 will go into a designated trust, and a board will be established to distribute funds to other transpeople in need.         
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING ME, YOUR FRIEND, SAM AND CHESTFEST 2010!!!