Details on the event at the end of this post!
Preface: For those who don’t already know, my wife (SL’s own Shai Delacroix of Casa Del Shai) and I (Kriss Lehmann of Botanical) both live in Manila, Philippines, a city that was recently devastated by Typhoon Ketsana (or Ondoy, as it was called here). We were extremely lucky and escaped the brunt of the typhoon’s effects, but so many others were not so lucky. Countless people lost their homes, some their lives. Pets, livestock, nothing was spared. The aftermath of the heavy flooding left by Ondoy was terrible , and it’s impact will be felt for a long time in this region.
In order to help, my wife and I joined forces with Miabella Foxley (who is so much more prepared and experienced with mobilizing the SL community) and began distributing donation kiosks to all willing hosts to begin the process of collecting funds to donate to the Red Cross Philippines to begin a two week typhoon relief fund drive. As badly as we wanted to immediately run out and buy supplies, many others had the same idea, and for the past couple weeks, stocks in our local stores have been extremely low. We hope by donating to the Red Cross, we can do what we can for shelters to be built, supplies from better stocked areas be purchased, and mobile water distribution stations to be erected.
In addition to the donated funds, my wife and I are donating half of the Botanical and Casa del Shai Second Life earnings for the duration of the drive to the cause.
Second Life community response has so far been overwhelming and I am looking forward to publishing the final numbers of the fund drive. I have seen a small part of the numbers, and it looks to be truly impressive.
Tonights Event!
As a wrap up event for the fund drive, Bethany Heart (owner of the Pemberly sim in Second Life) and Phemie Alcott (SL performer and owner of The Firefly Cafe have agreed to arrange and host a 10 hour Typhoon Relief Benefit Concert. An amazing list of live Second Life performers have agreed to donate all tips generated to the fund, and many great Second Life stores have also donated items specially priced for the event, the results of which will also be donated 100%. Participating stores include Addict, Aitui, Aoharu, Bohica, *Boom*, Botanical, Doux Petit Dahl, Duboo, Kenzie Co, Lelutka, The Loft, M. Fox, Minettes, Miseria, Modd G, Mudhoney, !ohmai, Pididdle, Pixel Mode, [[Shade Throne]], Silhouette, [skream], <SMP> and even more!
The event is going on AS I WRITE THIS at The Firefly Cafe on Pemberly. I’ve heard some terrific music and seen some VERY cool things for sale. For my part, I have put together an exclusive package for the event, called the Super Mega Copy Halloween Pack, including (all copyable) Hanging cobwebs, Spiderweb Groundcovers, Pumpkins and the newly released Split Rail Fence. All Copyable, Proceeds directly for charity, and for tonight only… $L750.
NOTE: location should be “Pemberley/237/130/26″ SLURLS are updated!
Head over to The Firefly Cafe on Pemberly, pick up some terrific items, and listen to some of the best live SL musicians around!
Update! The show was an amazing success, with $L411100 donated in tips alone. Amazing. Bethany has told me that she intends to keep the vendors up until midnight, SLT so you have a little more time to come by and check out all the great items people have contributed to the cause!
