Help Franco Cristofani

[Charles]

This is something that should be shared with the entire animation community. Unfortunately, the Animation Guild doesn't maintain a presence on the AN Forums anymore. It's a shame that they don't, because situations like this one should be brought to the animation community at large. Something they don't feel compelled to do I guess, but when it comes to the Guild and our history with them, nothing surprises me anymore.

Here's what's up. Franco Cristofani is an animation artist in the union, and is being held hostage in the Philippines because he can't cover his medical expenses. There's an effort to raise $7000 to free him.

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A message from Miranda Cristofani:

Franco Cristofani has been a part of the Animation community, and a member of Local 839 since the late 70's. He has been a part of the community here in LA as well as an instrumental force in development of the industry in Asia and the Pacificrim. Franco has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma which is cancer of the blood plasma cells present in your bone marrow. He fell ill while working in Asia and he was flown to the Philippines and put into intensive care at the Makati med Hospital in Manila.

Franco is now stable but we are unable to get him the medication and care he needs due to outrageous hospital bills and medication expenses. Franco has medicare and could get the treatment he needs to survive here in the States but the Hospital is not letting him leave the country till he has paid his bill, and they are refusing to treat him further.

Although this seems inhumane and criminal, (we have called Amnesty International) it is legal in the Philippines to do so. Without treatment and medication we fear for the worst. We are pulling all our resources to pay for the bill and fly Franco to the States where he can start treatment that could save his life. Our goal is $7000. Please help us and donate whatever you can to our save Franco fundraiser, even $5 helps. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you so much!!!

Visit this blog to donate through Paypal.

http://www.mirandacristofani.com/Save_F ... dates.html

Feel free to subscribe to the blog to get updates on his progress.

-- Miranda Cristofani

[Charles]

AN has made a donation on Franco Cristofani's behalf, and I'd like to encourage the animation community to do the same and help spread the word. Help out an animation colleague folks.

http://www.mirandacristofani.com/Save_F ... dates.html