Annddd… that's a wrap! To everyone who bid, shared, commented, sent messages, won something, or made a direct gift to HPR in José's memory, THANK YOU. While there is much I wish I could have done differently that would have required more energy and brain power than I currently have on tap, I'm incredibly happy with our results. As of today, with a few contributions still pending, we raised $4,630.68. While this is a little short of our goal, we still have some items that were not bid on in...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
From our early dating life through our travels, José and I shared a love of museums. I think this was the first photo I took of him viewing art and it quickly became a thing. I have dozens of images like this of him in his "art viewing stance" - and while this first one was captured unbeknownst to him, it became an inside joke for us + the camera. As of this moment, we've entered the final seven hours of the auction (77% to goal!) and I'm going to try to share a few more photos of him today...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
I'm happy to report that we've sustained momentum and are 72% of the way to our goal with 28 hours to go! Please keep sharing and bidding. Will share one final update before the auction closes tomorrow. For a little inspiration, I've just shared a story that was published about a year after José shared his diagnosis on the blog, followed by the most recent posts to social media. View it all here:https://teamjose.com/28-hours-to-go/
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
As shared yesterday, the auction proceeds directly support future interns at Hawaiʻi Public Radio, while also welcoming something into your home or office to remember him by. Since my last update, we've progressed from 39.5% to 62.3% to our total goal! We are on a great trajectory as we approach the final 48-hours. For those who aren't on social media, the latest post on the blog allows you to view what I've recently shared there. Two more days, and two more updates to go :)
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Today's auction update was just posted to the Team José blog! You'll also be able to view photos I've been sharing to social media of some of the art pieces, where they came from, and what they meant to José (with a few photos of him, too). Take a quick scroll:https://teamjose.com/were-39-to-goal/ Just three more days--and updates--to go! in gratitude,Jen
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Okay Team José friends, I was supposed to be volunteering at HANOCON this morning but came down with what is hopefully just a little cold. So I'm planning to use this unexpected gift of time to go ALL IN with the auction which I slowed down on in part because of HPR's fall membership drive which successfully concluded yesterday (which would have made José so proud). Over the past week or so, a ton more art has been added and I've been slowly adding stories as I sleuth and find them (if you...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
As I shared in my last update, I lost momentum and stalled out last week. I've been wrestling with a lot of complicated feelings and have struggled more than expected to launch and sustain the auction. Unpacking, unwrapping, and having so much of José's art and other treasured items he collected during his travels strewn across the apartment is definitely triggering my anxiety and surfacing lots of memories. The great news is that progress has been made! A teaser was just posted to the blog...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
As I shared on Monday, today would have been José's 62nd birthday. In his memory, and in fulfillment of his final wishes, today we kick-off an online auction of most of the art he created and collected in his lifetime. The goals of the online auction are to: contribute to the FAJARDO INTERNSHIP FUND at Hawai‘i Public Radio seed the development of a nonprofit we’ve established to further José’s legacy encourage others to continue to #LiveLikeJosé And at the encouragement of several of you, to...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
If you knew José later in his adult life, you likely knew that he was a great lover of art of all kinds–most notably various performing arts and blown glass–and he was also incredibly proud of the many pieces he had personally collected. As I've just shared on the blog, this month I will be organizing an online auction to fulfill the last remaining request from José's final wishes: for much of that art to be used to raise funds for an internship program in his honor at Hawai‘i Public Radio....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read