Dear Friends,
I wanted to wait until all the money came in from all the auctions before making a final announcement about the total funds raised and how they have helped Jennie. The last check from the last auction arrived a few days ago and I can now report a final total to you.
As I said in our last ‘A Fund for Jennie’ post, we could never have predicted how much money we would raise. The final total raised was $76,430.50. We hoped for $10,000 and as the campaign started to pick up momentum our highest hope was that we would raise $25,000. You more than tripled that! The money just kept pouring in from across the United States and even around the world. I’ve said it time and again, but your generosity blew us (and onlookers) away.
When we first started planning the campaign, Shauna and I talked about how best this community could help Jennie and the girls. Our first thought was of a college fund. And Jennie’s closest friends agreed. Education for his girls was of the utmost importance to Mikey. What better way to honor him and his memory than to ensure that future for them?
But in the days and weeks after Mikey’s death, when Jennie’s financial future was uncertain, we thought it best to raise money “to give them financial support during this difficult time.” It didn’t seem wise to limit how the funds could be used when everything was still so unsure. And the reality is, “this difficult time” will last a lifetime for Jennie, Isabella, and Virginia. Without her husband, without their dad, life will always be difficult.
Because the assistance from friends has helped address immediate concerns, 100% of the funds raised by Bloggers without Borders during ‘A Fund for Jennie’ is being split equally to be transferred into 529 accounts for Jennie’s daughters, Isabella (8) and Virginia (3). A 529 account is an education savings plan opened by parents to save money for their children’s education.
It’s hard to believe that this blogging community has played such a large role in securing a bright future for the girls. In doing so, you have made it easier for the Perillos to focus on healing and their day-to-day lives, confident that whatever new challenges they may face in the months and years to come, at least Isabella and Virginia’s education will always be secure. It’s what every parent would want.
Again, we want to thank you for your generosity and for spreading the word during the campaign. We owe a debt to gratitude to all of you: to the bloggers who donated their time, talents, and services; to those who bid on their amazing auctions; and to those who simply gave out of the goodness of their heart. We are so grateful.
We look forward to doing so much more with you.
Yours for Good,
Maggy Keet
CEO, Bloggers without Borders
26 Responses to A Fund for Jennie: The Final Update!
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This is so amazing! I’m so proud of this community for coming together and raising so much for such a great cause – and showing that when we work together, even small amounts can combine to make huge amounts. Thank you for such good news in my day!
Wahoo! That’s excellent news. Happy to hear that the girls will have a little nest egg to draw from when the time for their continuing education comes. Thanks to you Maggy for heading this up and for your wonderful, new organization. I know that the blogging world thanks you
This is awesome news! I’m so pleased to have been able to do my part to help Jennie and her girls. I hope they find peace in the days ahead….
It is really wonderful to hear this terrific update to a terrible tragedy. I am so happy to be a part of a wonderful community!
Incredible!!! What a beautiful display of kindness & support for one of our own. It’s truly an honor to be part of such an amazing community! SO happy for Jennie & her girls!
This is so heartwarming and astounding! I commend you on your efforts and applaud your success. Bloggers without Borders has done a very noble deed in ensuring Jennie and Mike’s children will receive the gift of education. You guys are angels and so is every person that donated.
What a wonderful result thanks to your efforts and the generosity of the food blogging community.
That’s teriffic, only the charity wasn’t started with the purpose of funding college. Isn’t Jennie still losing her home?
” in the days and weeks after Mikey’s death, when Jennie’s financial future was uncertain, we thought it best to raise money “to give them financial support during this difficult time.” It didn’t seem wise to limit how the funds could be used when everything was still so unsure.”
That was the stated purpose from the beginning, and the reason for the contributions. While I am excited about the final total, and proud of the community effort, it does seem a bit like ‘bait and switch’. Make no mistake, my heart goes out to Jennie, and I do appreciate all of the efforts to support her. My intentions, and I’m sure many others’, was to rush to Jennie’s aid, now, when her financial needs were great and she was being denied benefits and in danger of losing her home.
Wow!! It is amazing!! I am so glad the girls will have the savings for their education and it will help them in the future.
That is truly amazing. Glad I was able to help Jennie and her girls in a small way.
Holy smokes, that’s amazing! Well done, all around!
I’m so proud. Thank you for making this possible.
Absolutely amazing! So happy to be apart of a wonderful blogging community!
Congratulations on making Perillo lovely effort to enjoy! Because unique, loving ladies share help in time.
Showed kindness, exuded politeness, took in contributions at least
this is wonderful – what an amazing and moving contribution in the name of education, given by such an inspiring community.
I continue to send Jennie comfort and healing <3
I know this will be censored, but I just want to state for the record that I am disappointed in this project and the way it was presented. I do not plan to donate here again.
Never underestimate the desire to help.
So happy to hear that the girls will have college taken care of without a problems.
Amazing!
I’m a big fan of 529 savings accounts — I applaud your decision to put all the funds towards the girls’ educations.
By the way, 529 accounts make wonderful (and unique!) wedding gifts. You can print up the paperwork and include a “starter” check as your gift.
I’m a big fan of 529 accounts, but I find the idea of giving one as a wedding gift a little puzzling. Unless you know one or parties is contemplating grad school, it seems a little presumptuous to assume the couple will be having children. Great for a baby shower gift, absolutely, but a wedding gift seems a bit odd to me.
Better make sure the couple is going to have kids before assuming…
Yes, you’re both absolutely right. It’s best to find out first if the couple is planning on having kids before doing a 529 gift!
This is profoundly amazing. What a community!! I’m so glad someone started such an organization. Thank you!!
I am also “Ann from Montana”…Elizabeth “Ann” Summers.
I contributed and I do not have a problem with the funds going for the Perillo children’s college, in fact I am thrilled with that use and with the fact that those girls will hopefully see their father and his wishes in these funds.
BUT, my financial situation is not dire and I have no children of my own. AND, the original campaign for funds did stress that there was a need for home and living expenses vs college fund so I do understand that some who contributed would feel they were mislead.
I do not by any means feel that there was any intentional misleading.
For my part, after reading of the request and reviewing some of Jennie’s blog … I deduced that the situation might not be as dire as portrayed. Still, I knew the request was not only well intended but coming from that place of wanting/needing to do something/anything to help a friend who was hurting. And I wanted to be part of that. I believe strongly that humanity is best served by our helping our friends and neighbors and community…the blogging world is a community as far as I am concerned.
Unfortunately, the misunderstanding and unintentional representation of the need, may make future requests more difficult. Additionally, some of the backlash my fall on Jennie (via her blog).
I confess, I don’t know the solution to this current situation or to future projects, but I also did not feel like I could say nothing.
Respectful and sincerely,
E. A. Summers
Thanks for this update on how much money came in and how it is being applied. Putting it toward the girls’ education sounds smart, that makes so much sense. I love the generosity of spirit BWOB expressed in creating this fund, and the way it inspired so many people to dream up ways to support the cause. Glad that I could make a donation, and I look forward to supporting your generous work going forward. All good wishes!