PLAYING FOR PATRICK FUNDRAISER

PLAYING

FOR

P ATRICK

PLEASE JOIN THEATRE ARTS AND STRINGS

FOR OUR SPRING CONCERT

THURSDAY  JUNE  7^TH

GRANADA MIDDLE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

6:00 PM

TO HELP US RAISE FUNDS FOR

OUR FRIEND AND CLASSMATE

PATRICK

EVERLY

IN HIS FIGHT

AGAINST

LEUKEMIA

To whom it may concern,

My name is Sandra Jacobson and I am the music director of strings at Granada Middle School in the East Whittier City School District. I am writing you today to ask for your support for a 7^th grade student at our school named Patrick Everly who has Leukemia.

Patrick was diagnosed with Leukemia this past January and ever since hearing of his plight, the students in my string classes wanted to do something to help him.  We came up with the idea of dedicating our spring concert to raising funds to help him and his family through this ordeal.

Now, as our concert time approaches, we would like to invite as many people to our free concert, not only to financially help through voluntary donations but also to give Patrick and his family all our emotional support.  As our Vice Principal Mrs. Dunn so beautifully says, “We must keep Patrick in our hearts” as it is our way of helping him to heal. 

In between his chemotherapy treatments, Patrick came to the school for a visit.  My students anxiously wanted to see him but were at a loss of what to say.  Most of them had never experienced a friend, (classmate and peer) so ill before.  What they found so difficult to express to Patrick in words they want to show him through their music.

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent"

~Victor Hugo~

What makes everything so poignant is that Patrick understands what my students are feeling more than most because he is a cello player in our group.  He is one of us and we miss him dearly.

To help us in this fund raising endeavor, our school’s Theatre Art Classes, under the direction of Mr. Phil Roa, will also be performing for Patrick.  They volunteered to help in hopes that both our groups together will be able to bring in a lot of support from the community in helping Patrick get better. 

Alongside our performances, two of our Granada teachers, Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Olshan are currently organizing a recycling of cans and plastic (no glass) with all proceeds going for Patrick and to that end we will have a dedicated spot for people to drop them off at our concert. Also, Patrick’s Boy Scout Troop will also be attending, holding a fundraising “Bake Sale” after our performance.

I have worked at the East Whittier School District for 31 years and I personally know that the communities that the school district services are made up of people who are very closely connected, like a large family.  Patrick is a member of this family. He needs our help to get through this.  Please help us get the word out and help him and his family in any way possible.

Thank-you,

Sandra Jacobson

====================

ADDENDUM:

Patrick Everly 

PASSED AWAY ON

FRIDAY; JUNE 8TH, 2012.

We will miss him terribly.

Any donations can be made in Patrick Everly's name to: 

Miller Children's Hospital 
2801 Atlantic Avenue
Long Beach, California 90806
PH: 562-933-4483

or 

Patrick Everly Fund 
Lutheran Credit Union of America 

251 S. Randolph Avenue Suite C

Brea, California 92821
PH: 714-257-4900

====================

This is something Patrick's sister wrote about her brother:

"MY HERO"

By

London Everly

(4th grader)

Do you have a hero? 

I do.

His name is Patrick and he's my brother.

I think he is very brave.

He's the best brother a sister could have.

Patrick has brown eyes, black hair,
and a wonderful smile.

He's very tall and he always makes me smile

by saying something funny.

That's why he is my hero.

====================

Patrick's mother expressed to me how she would like to spread the word that "nobody is promised a tomorrow" and to that end I found this poem on the Internet that I think expresses her feelings:

"IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES"

http://www.theribbon.com/poetry/tomorrow.asp

If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly, and pray the Lord your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss, and call you back for just one more.

If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would tape each word and action, and play them back throughout my days
If I knew it would be the last time, I would spare an extra minute or two,
To stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming you know I do.

So just in case tomorrow never comes, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you, and I hope we never will forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day
That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss,
And you were too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today, and whisper in their ear,
That you love them very much, and you'll always hold them dear.
Take time to say "I'm sorry," "Please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay".
And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today.

© Norma Cornett Marek ~ 1989

====================


"The Reason" by Hoobastank