Most of you remember me, Byron Vaughns; some may know my wife Betty and some do not know us at all. This blog was really started for her and we really need your help.
Betty formerly worked as my production assistant at Warner Bros. Animation when I was a director on Tiny Toons and Animaniacs; she moved on to working with the development department under Jean McCurdy in the 1990’s. She later worked as a producer on a pilot for Nick Jr. before becoming the Administrative Director of Animation Creations, our animation workshop studio for children located in Sherman Oaks, CA.
Recently, she has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and is facing quadruple bypass surgery (high risk because of the high cholesterol & diabetes) and has lost sight in her left eye due to glaucoma. This situation has been compounded with a time consuming move from Arleta to Sylmar (she had to be rushed to the emergency room during that time).
A LITTLE BACKSTORY OF HOW IT CAME TO THIS & THE REASON FOR THE EARLY RETIREMENT MONEY:
There have been an unusual number of disasters in recent years:
- A severe lack of work (or just not enough)
- The closing of our animation workshop studio for children, so that Betty could move to Arkansas to become the primary caretaker of her mom (about a year and a half) until she passed)
- Moving from our apartment after 21 years (due to landlord plumbing/restoration problems)
- The loss of Betty’s childhood home last year in a fire (we were in the process of making it our permanent residence).
Although the fire caused us extreme personal loss (including other things such as computers, electronic equipment, etc. and years and years of tax documents), nothing was more important than Betty’s safety (she was asleep and had barely minutes to get out). We were so blessed she made it out alive and we are very grateful.
I have constantly looked for work, but it has eluded me. Studios have contacted me and promised work but not followed through. When I was approached by a union shop with the promise of work before the holidays, I figured some relief was forthcoming; however, the studio is still not ready. In general, this type of thing has been happening for the past couple of years with very little work available.
After a long period of inactivity in the industry, I finally decided to file for an early retirement to ease the financial burden, although I will still be very active in the animation industry and eligible to work through the union again by March 1st, 2012. I plan to regroup and continue to seek work with a stronger game plan.
It has finally come to this; we are now in an emergency situation and we need immediate help towards our financial obligations or we are in danger of losing the belongings we have left (since a house fire about a year ago) with no place to stay and no access to health care.
After draining all our resources and due to a series of crises, I am in the awkward position of being unable to support all of my family’s needs.
With no work and no money, the Cobra insurance (which ends in May this year), co-payments and the medication she needs to stay alive has created such an impossible situation, she may not be able to see her doctors or have the surgery in time to save her life. She is currently almost out of medication with no way to pay for it (by the way, Cobra payments will go up after February from around $360.00 to $1,031.11 starting in March).
This is not an easy thing to ask, but, frankly, I wouldn't bother friends or associates if I didn't need help. The domino effect of all of the above has brought me to this plea for help.
Please let me know if you can put this on your blog; both Betty and I would be eternally grateful. You can reach me at 818-749-8536 or email me at
cartoonland@sbcglobal.net
WAYS TO HELP AND CONTACT INFO
Please contact us at 818-749-8536 or email us at bvneedshelp@sbcglobal.net
For more information our blog is: http://bvneedshelp.blogspot.com
For immediate cash donations or checks: I can pick it up or someone can make a deposit directly into our bank checking account. For details, call me at 818-749-8536.
PayPal is an option, but it takes 3 to 4 days for us to receive it. If no other way, please use the PayPal button on this page or call us for other options.
Please, if anyone can help, even today, it would be most appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Things are very tight right now and we need help toward this amount that will help cover co-pays for Cobra, medications, doctor care, etc. We are working towards a total of $7,000.00.
Sincerely,
Byron Vaughns
