All good things don't have to come to an end...

Dear Friends,

Yesterday marked the end of Ella's fundraiser. She was so proud as she handed a stack of donations to the Red Cross worker. She went on a tour of the building, checked out the Red Cross emergency vehicles, and (in true Ella fashion) danced on the huge red cross in the middle of the floor.

Thank you to all who supported her fundraising efforts for Japan Earthquake & Tsunami Relief! Though the fundraiser is officially over, we still have thousands of cards and prints available and there is still a huge need in Japan. We will accept any amount you can give. Please contact me if you would like to place an order.

Thank you/Konichiwa,
Ella & Jane

Thousands of Cards and Art Prints for Sale!

It has been a little over a month since the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. People are still suffering and still need help; please continue to support them in any way you can. There are many ways to give; one way is by ordering darling cards and art prints by Ella!

For your convenience, there are two ways to order:

Option 1 | Paypal

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Pay by debit, credit card or your Paypal account
Select item from the drop-down menu > Add to Cart > Continue Shopping
After selecting desired items: View Cart > Check Out

4.25x5.5 Card or 5x7 Print Kimono Girl Card $3.50 Set of 5 Cards $15.00 5x7 Print $7.00 Signed Limited Ed. 5x7 Print $12.00   5x7 Print 3.5x8.5 Card Origami Crane Card $3.50 Set of 5 Cards $15.00 5x7 Print $7.00 Signed Limited Ed. 5x7 Print $12.00

Option 2 | Check or Money Order

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To pay by check or money order, place your order here:  Order Form

 Instructions:

-Make check payable to "American Red Cross"

-Write "Japan Relief" in the memo section

-Remit check to:

      Jane Griffin

      PO BOX 45346

      Seattle, WA 98145

*American Red Cross requests that Hope for Japan by Ella holds checks until the fundraiser is complete, which will be until at least 5/31/11.

*The order form will not calculate your total amount due or list the item/quantity ordered. Please refer to the price guide below when paying by check or money order. If you can't remember what you ordered please contact Jane at hopeforjapan.ella@gmail.com.

PRICE GUIDE:

Kimono Girl or  Origami Crane Card (w/ an envelope) ~ $3.50

Kimono Girl or  Origami Crane Card Set of 5 (w/ envelopes) ~ $15

Kimono Girl or  Origami Crane 5x7 Print (unframed) ~ $7

Kimono Girl or  Origami Crane Signed Limited Edition Print (unframed) ~ $12

Ella sings at the Cherry Blossom Festival!

The Kabuki Academy graciously invited Ella to sing with them at the Seattle 2011 Cherry Blossom Festival. This is Ella's first public musical performance. The song starts at 1:00. Ella mouths "I love you, Mommy" at 2:34. XOXO

Goal Infinity!!

For those of you who watched the Komo news segment, you may have heard the fundraising goal that Ella had in mind. Infinity. Well, it's going to take a very long time to raise infinity dollars, so I've set a more realistic goal of $5000. I know, I know - I've lost my childlike innocence and enthusiasm.

What you didn't hear on the news segment was that if Japan still needs her help when she visits for her 5th grade school trip, she will give them her jar full of coins. Money may be finite, but Ella's devotion is infinite.

As of today, Hope for Japan by Ella has raised $1571 - that's almost 1/3 of the way to the goal. Please keep forwarding Ella's blog to your friends and family. We are so thankful for those that continue to do this.

Go Goal Infinity!!

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

North Seattle Herald-Outlook





Ella is featured in a North Seattle Herald-Outlook article about how

locals kids are helping victims of the Japan Earthquake & Tsunami.

Check it out here and grab a print at a North Seattle coffee shop, cafe or grocery store!

 

HFJ by Ella on Komo News!

NEW artwork by Ella. Drum roll...

Origami Crane ~ Hope
3.5 x 8.5 Card

Origami Crane ~ Hope
5x7 Print


Ella made "Origami Crane ~ Hope" with pencil and watercolors.
The Japanese word she inscribed on the picture means "hope".

3.5x8.5 Card (w/ an envelope) ~ $3.50

3.5x8.5 Card Set of 5 (w/ envelopes) ~ $15

5x7 Print (unframed) ~ $7
Signed Limited Edition 5x7 Print (unframed) ~ $12

Click here to order

The First Week...

There are a few experiences in my life where I have had that "something bigger than myself" feeling, and this is one of them.

This past week has been exciting and fun for Ella and me. Writing that brings about pain because I know that tragic events had to occur for "Hope for Japan by Ella" to even exist. But those events happened and that is out of our control. All we can do now is pray and help in any way that we can. I am fortunate to be able to help, while encouraging creativity and instilling selflessness in my child.

I would like to share a quote that rings true for me:

"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure." - Emma Goldman

As you see, we met our goal for the week. Yes! Stay tuned for the reveal of Ella's new artwork tomorrow!

Photos of the art, cards and Ella...

The We Can Weekend...

Immediately after waking, Ella squealed, "It's the weekend!". When she says "weekend", it sounds like "weekan", so we shall call this weekend "The We Can Weekend".

We CAN:

• Raise $200 more by the end of Sunday to reach $1000 for the week (we started Hope for Japan on 3/14/11, and are now up to a little over $800!!!)
• Write 42 thank you notes
• Assemble & send 42 packages
• Create the crane art that Ella talked about in her appeal video - that is if her creative juices are flowing.

Well, we better get to it!  



Meeting Goals...

So, here we are at 2:30 am. I'm tired, but my spirit is full and that is what keeps me going.  I am astounded by the generosity I have witnessed over the past week - from Hope for Japan supporters and humanitarians throughout the world. Humankind is beautiful.

In just three days, Hope for Japan (HFJ) has raised nearly $500 and stolen the hearts of many (Ella's pretty good at that). At this rate, HFJ can meet the goal of $5000 in just one month; and that is what we intend to do. But we need your help. Please forward the HFJ blog and Ella's appeal video to friends/family/colleagues - share it on Facebook, tweet it on Twitter, tack it on a cork board in a cafe, shout it from the mountaintops! It will make a difference. Thank you for your support.

Keeping those who are suffering in my prayers,

Jane (Ella's mom)

And the generosity pours in...

"We make a living by what we get,
we make a life by what we give."  Winston Churchill

We are ever so grateful to A&A Printing, Inc. for generously donating the cost of printing for "Hope for Japan by Ella" cards and prints. Not only does A&A produce superb (Ella's favorite word at the moment) work and have impeccable customer service, but they have a HUGE heart too.

For your next printing job, please consider A&A Printing, Inc.

320 Queen Anne Ave N
Seattle, WA 98109

(206) 285-1700
sales@aaprinting.com

www.aaprinting.com

A message and song from the artist and founder...

Buy cute art and support disaster relief efforts...

Purchase "Hope for Japan by Ella" cards or art prints, and 100% of net proceeds will go to American Red Cross to support disaster relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific.

Ella, age 6, made "Kimono Girl ~ Hope" with pencil and watercolors. The Japanese word she inscribed on the drawing means "hope". Ella is a Kindergartner at a language-immersion school where she is learning Japanese. 

Kimono Girl ~ Hope

 4.25x5.5 Card ~ $3.50

4.25x5.5 Card Set of 5  ~ $15

5x7 Print (unframed) ~ $7
Signed Limited Edition Print (unframed) ~ $12

Click here to order

If you have questions, please contact Jane at hopeforjapan.ella@gmail.com.

To donate directly to American Red Cross, but not receive art by Ella, click on the banner below.