Jonah

“Jonah-Inspired” … a letter to Jonah from his Dad

“Jonah-Inspired” … a letter to Jonah from his Dad

December 20, 2019 Billy , No comments

Dear Jonah,

So we’re running this campaign for the foundation. We call it “Jonah-Inspired.” The premise here is that when we award grants with the money that people donate, we’re selecting organizations and projects we think you yourself might have chosen, whether to donate money or to volunteer your time.

But where does that come from, this inspiration? Well, frankly, you’re kind of legendary. From the moment you disappeared, the stories about you began to surface. I mean, I knew you were a nice guy and all, but I had no idea how many individual lives you had touched in seemingly unforgettable ways.

Here are just a few of the notes that people left for you when they’d learned you were gone:

“You’ve been my hero since the day I met you.”

Billy“Jonah-Inspired” … a letter to Jonah from his Dad
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Slackline

Slackline

July 29, 2019 Billy 1 comment

Dear Jonah,

I often find myself wondering where your life might have taken you. What career would you have chosen? Would you have found a partner with whom to share the empire? With a life that ended at age nineteen, you were nowhere near resolving these or many other questions. And while that was fine then, it leaves me pretty much at a loss filling in the details of the life that might have lay ahead.

Every now and then, I see something I’m sure would have caught your eye. But sometimes I see something and I’m definitely not sure what you would have thought about it. I think of you anyway.

BillySlackline
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Jill Abusch: Ten Years Later (Part 18 … and our final writing)

Jill Abusch: Ten Years Later (Part 18 … and our final writing)

July 1, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Jill Abusch.

Jill is co-founder, Artistic Director, Camp Director and resident second mommy to many students and alumni of The Play Group Theatre. Along with directing many of PGT’s stage productions, Jill teaches a variety of classes from Little Theatre to Advanced Acting Technique, and has gone into schools and camps to train teachers on the use of drama in the classroom.  She studied acting and directing at the Stella Adler Conservatory and the Classical Studio at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a BFA in Drama. She adores working alongside her husband and partner, Steven, and is especially proud of their best productions, by far, Aviva and Ilana.

BillyJill Abusch: Ten Years Later (Part 18 … and our final writing)
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Ale Rabellino: Ten Years Later (Part 17)

Ale Rabellino: Ten Years Later (Part 17)

June 30, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Ale Rabellino.

Ale is a graphic designer at McCann Erickson in New York. After graduating from the Portfolio Center in Atlanta in 2017, she moved back to her native New York (albeit New Jersey this time around). When she’s not working, you can find her at the Biergarten with her 95 year old grandma, at a Broadway show or concert, or enjoying her family’s delicious Mediterranean cooking.

BillyAle Rabellino: Ten Years Later (Part 17)
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Andrea Zlotowitz: Ten Years Later (Part 16)

Andrea Zlotowitz: Ten Years Later (Part 16)

June 27, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Andrea Zlotowitz.

Andrea lives in Brooklyn with her husband and currently works at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards setting up exhibitions of student work across the country. She finds joy in cooking, seeing art and spending time outdoors, some of which she was able to enjoy with Jonah.

BillyAndrea Zlotowitz: Ten Years Later (Part 16)
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Jamie Rubin: Ten Years Later (Part 15)

June 26, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Jamie Rubin.

Jamie currently lives in New Jersey, after moving from Chicago to New York City in April of 2016. She has been a nanny for a family of four rambunctious boys for the last two and half years, while also going to school full time. On top of that, she began a weight loss journey, saw 80 pounds disappear and is still going. She never saw herself as a gym goer but is now obsessed with one called Orange Theory Fitness. Jamie graduated two weeks ago having earned her BA in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Special Education and is going to start teaching in the fall. She’s also going to start the masters program at Montclair State University this fall. Aside from all this, Jamie is also getting married in November!

BillyJamie Rubin: Ten Years Later (Part 15)
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Simone Woolis: Ten Years Later (Part 14)

June 24, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Simone Woolis.

Simone is a barista/bartender living in Brooklyn. She spends her free time writing, listening to music, walking around the city, and taking way too many pictures of her cats. She’s working on becoming a Peer Mentor to youth struggling with mental health issues, and hopes she can help others as much as Jonah helped her.

BillySimone Woolis: Ten Years Later (Part 14)
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Maddie Hendricks: Ten Years Later (Part 13)

June 23, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Maddie Hendricks.

Maddie has worked on the CW’s Jane The Virgin for the past five years, starting as the Showrunner’s assistant, then as an Associate Producer, and is currently a writer on the staff. Maddie is also a playwright whose work has been published by Samuel French. She co-created See What Sticks, a monthly workshop with an audience in LA where artists of all disciplines come together to present works in progress.

BillyMaddie Hendricks: Ten Years Later (Part 13)
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David White: Ten Years Later (Part 12)

June 22, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet David White.

David is currently a youth director at Temple Beth El in Great Neck, NY. He is beginning his studies at HUC this summer. He has a long connection with NFTY NAR and the URJ Kutz Camp, which is how how he knew Jonah.

BillyDavid White: Ten Years Later (Part 12)
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Ashera Buhite: Ten Years Later (Part 11)

June 20, 2019 Billy , No comments

Jonah’s death ten years ago commenced a journey for many of us that has been filled with sadness (of course) but also with love — so much love. With this campaign, “10 Years Later,” you’re invited to spend some time with some of Jonah’s best friends and teachers.

*          *          *

Meet Ashera Buhite.

Ashera is a Marriage and Family Therapist, writer, and bartender based in Buffalo, NY. You can check out more of her writing at QweenCity.com.

BillyAshera Buhite: Ten Years Later (Part 11)
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While some knew him as Jonah and others as Mac, we all loved and respected him. And we miss him dearly.

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