If you missed it, we started our annual birthday project for Matt Cohen, Richard Speight, Jr. and Rob Benedict, to celebrate their birthdays! The three have birthdays all within the month of September, and since they’re some of our favorites and have always been incredibly kind to us, as well as fans around the fandom, we wanted to do something special for them.
We asked everyone to donate to three charities for each of the men; Random Acts for Matt, Feeding America for Rich, and American Stroke Association for Rob. Together, $2,553.10 was raised for charity!
Thank you to everyone who participated and donated!
The winners of the prize packs will be announced shortly.
Below, is an open letter directed towards the three, as we finally close out the project.
Dear Matt, Rob, and Rich,
Happy Birthday.
As our small token of appreciation, we asked for our staff, readers, and fans of yours to donate directly to charities we knew would mean the most to you. The charities were: Matt (Random Acts), Rob (American Stroke Association) and Rich (Feeding America).
The staff, along with some incredible donations from around the fandom, came up with prize packs to give away to those who donated, which will be given away to three random donors. Items included merchandise from Stands, merchandise from Dogwood Events, a DVD courtesy of the folks over at 30 Miles From Nowhere, and a host of items from different fandom artists, photographers, and friends.
Thank you again to the following fandom artists/staff/photographers for donating items: Gaby , Mandi Lea Photography, HM Photography, Muriel Forir Photography, Liz Larson Photography, Kelsi Sickmann Photography, Lanie Art Studio, Sarah Wylde, Natasha Cole, and Erika.
So.. here’s the totals of what we raised.
$2,553.10 was raised for charity.
For Matt: $590 was raised for Random Acts in honor of your birthday.
For Rob: $912 was raised for the American Stroke Association in honor of your birthday.
For Rich: $1,051.10 was raised for Feeding America in honor of your birthday.
Love, the entire Nerds and Beyond Staff (Briar, Kayla, Ali, Margaret, Lindsey, Kaity, Mandi, Kari, Becky, Heather, Kaci, Mikayla, Britt, Hailee, Brianna, Michelle C., Melanie, Adrienne, Amanda B., Amanda S., Conny, Deb, Emelie, Julia, Kailey, Kailin, Kate, Michelle M., Muriel, Natasha, Nicki, Nicole B., Nicole M., Rachel R., Rachel F., Sam, Sarah, Shannon, Suzette, Trista, Nancy, Anna, Kelsi and Liz.)
And the many donors who donated to wish you a happy birthday:
Sarah R., Nancy M., Cara C., Susan R., Miranda M., Jamie L., Finn P., Katie M., Alison K., Angela D., Melissa G., Lada B., Lisa W., Teri J., Cherilyn S., Mariah C., Teri S., Amy S., Kendra F., Laura W., Lynne J., Amanda D., Sheri O., Tiana R., Kathy S., Jennifer G., Amy A., Heather R., Hannah P., Angele D., Lindsay R., Jamie L., Ann P., Diana S., Delaney Q., Amy H., Tricia A., Ammarina S., Rachel S., Liz S., Victoria C., Regina M., Angela G., Vicky G., Chelsea R., Jessica J., Christine S., Lisa P., Rosie H., Natasha L., Nicole M., Ana P., Emily B., Denise S., Carrie R., Jennifer B., Kendra, Emma H., and Sam.
