Great Dance

August 27, 2008

Choreographer and Video Artist Jillian Peña Needs Our Help!


jillian-pena.jpg
Jillian Peña

Please see this heart-felt email from Miguel Gutierrez about dancer/choreographer/video and performance artist Jillian Peña who sustained critical injuries after being hit by a car two weeks ago. The driver was unlicensed, and Jillian, like many of us in the dance community, does not have health insurance. She needs all of our support right now. Please consider giving a donation. Details below.


Hello

I hope this email finds you well.

I am writing you to ask you for your support for my dear friend Jillian Peña.

You may or may not know that Jillian, who is a dancer, choreographer and video artist, was hit by a car in New York 2 1/2 weeks ago in Brooklyn, NY. This article in the Post has some of the basic information about it: http://www.nypost.com/seven/08122008/news/regionalnews/promising_dancer_hit_by_auto_124057.htm

Since then she has been at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. She was admitted with two hematomas in her head, underwent multiple surgeries, and is now progressively waking up from a coma.

Despite the gravity of the accident and the anxiety of the past few weeks, I believe that Jillian is definitely on the road to recovery. I have been inspired and heartened by the amount of improvement in her condition in just the past 3 days. Yesterday she was transferred from the Intensive Care Unit to the Rehabilitation floor of the hospital, which, in and of itself is cause for celebration.

For updates and info on her situation, you can go to friendsofjillian.blogspot.com

Unfortunately, as with so many artists and working people in this country, Jillian doesn't have health insurance. The medical costs will be staggering. In addition, her parents have re-located here indefinitely from their home in New Mexico, and it will be a huge expense for them as well to stay in NY during Jillian's rehabilitation.

A paypal account has been set up to receive financial donations to alleviate the financial hardship that Jillian and her family are experiencing at this time. Please consider making a donation on her behalf. ANY amount, any number of times that you can give it, will be invaluable for her and for her family. I know this is hardly a time when people have extra cash, but please know that this donation will provide immediate and much needed assistance. No donation is too small or too large.

To donate, go to paypal.com and sign up for an account (takes literally about 2-3 minutes) and then go to the "Send Money" tab and make the donation to:
donations4jillian@gmail.com

Again, please consider making a donation on behalf of Jillian and her family today. With help from as many people as possible, we can keep the focus on Jillian's recovery.

And of course, feel free to pass this email on to as many people as you like.

Thank you
Miguel


www.miguelgutierrez.org


Posted by Anna Brady Nuse on August 27, 2008 10:39 AM


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Great Dance is a registered trademark.