This is a dog-free post. If you’re not interested in hearing an update about my foundation project, please keep on scrolling.
Oh, you’re still here? Well, alrighty then.
I’ve launched my tiny charity. It’s a memorial foundation in honor of the AJF (Alpha Japanese Female) who you may remember from the Within The K Streets days. Machiko passed away just about a year ago from pancreatic cancer.
The charity is a 501(c)(3) California public benefit corporation which basically means donations are tax deductible but let me get in front of this: this blog post is 100% informational to blog friends and NOT a request for donations. In fact, we only operate in California for now although I hope to expand to Hawaii, so don’t even think about it. OK, now that’s out of the way.
The foundation name is “Machiko no Ishi” which means “Machiko’s Legacy.”
Machiko’s Legacy gives to hospice patients and other patients with life-limiting illnesses, a cute plush Maltese dog – a stuffie – for them to hold and cuddle.
This notion of gifting Maltese stuffies was inspired by Machiko’s hospice experience when I gave her a plush stuffie that resembled Max the Maltese. That story is told on the website.
In hospice there comes a point where words are not very useful and the availability of a gentle little companion who is non-judgmental, present 24/7, and soft to the touch is meaningful. There’s a lot of science backing that up, not just me.
Anyway, the best way to see what I’ve been up to is to visit the charity website on desktop or mobile, your choice: Clicky the linky.
If I’ve done a good job on the website, you will clearly grasp all the ins and outs of how the charity functions.
You will also see a lot of personal information and a collection of AJF photos on the Our Story page. I did a lot of the site design (with some professional help, too) and wrote all the text, of course.
It has been very difficult for me to wrap my head around the notion of putting personal information in front of the public, but obviously that is necessary for the foundation to achieve its purpose and hopefully become sustainable. It’s a lot easier to talk about dogs.
Anyway, that’s the news. I’d be obliged to hear your comments and criticisms. I won’t be bringing up the charity on this blog anymore unless it somehow intersects with dog stuff.
Have to maintain the intellectual purity of stories like Poopocalypse, don’cha know.
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