Happy Mother's Day to the Zone!
Since our Birthday Project this year focuses on assisting Children's Hospice, Mother's Day (in the U.S.) seems an especially appropriate time to thank all the wonderful Zoners and friends who have given so graciously to this project. Thank you again for your generous donations and for keeping the cyberspace cash registers at our Cafe Press shop ringing merrily. We have sold more than 400 items--that's amazing!
On this day, please spare a thought for Dustin's and Alexis's mothers, and for all the other Hospice families who are travelling this most difficult road. While some of us celebrate, others are grieving; let's do what we can to help them.
Now I have some especially good news to share with all of you. Some members recently inquired whether we were going to notify Johnny Depp about the Birthday Project. I have never wanted it to seem that there was some quid pro quo involved, or that we were doing the project in the hope of attracting Johnny's attention. The point of a charity project is to do good for others, period . . . without any thought of recognition or personal gain. So my response to the staff was that we would not notify Johnny because it wasn't necessary and might give the wrong impression about our goals, which were simply to help the Hospice and to honor Johnny by following his example.
Needless to say, I have been tremendously proud of the Zone for giving so generously simply to help the children. You are incredible.
But imagine my surprise when b.p. olive forwarded this message, which she received this week from the Co-Executive Directors of Children's Hospice, Lori Butterworth and Devon Dabbs:
"Are you part of Depp Zone? If so would you let everyone know that Johnny was very touched by the birthday project for Children's Hospice. It means a great deal to him. He has perused the items for sale--who knows maybe he'll buy something.
We at Children's Hospice are so very grateful. Both Dustin's mom and Alexis's mom were so moved that their children are being remembered in this most touching and loving way. Please give everyone our deepest thank you!Love, Lori and Devon"
I have been touched by Johnny Depp's amazing performances and supremely kind soul for the past twenty years. I am astonished to now find that we here on the Zone, together, have created something so beautiful that it has touched him.
I salute the wonderful artists who shared their designs with us, and who expressed the spirit of the children and of Johnny so beautifully. My deepest and most heartfelt thanks go out to them, and to the members of the Zone and our friends all over the world who share in this dream come true.
Part-Time Poet
JDZ Webmaster
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It's a good feeling knowing that our donations have helped some of the families at Children's Hospice. Bless Johnny for having put on Dustin's bracelet, it brought extra attention to such a worth while cause.
