Fabian Guerra - IMPORTANT Follow-Up

[Dennis Sherrod]

I would like to ask that anyone who contributed to the Guerra Family Fund through the fund raiser on July 17, 2009 in Topeka, Kansas, please ask where your donations have gone.
Kyle Soldani, (Not at Fault) helped to organize this fund raiser. All donations raised there were given to Severe Studios to give to the Guerra Family. As of last night, after 3-1/2 months, they still have not recieved these funds entrusted to Severe Studios to give to them. There has been no contact from Severe Studios to the family explaining any actions or lack of actions.
Needless to say, The Guerra Family is appalled that the honest people who gave donations through that event did not have their funds donated as they had thought they would be.
Originally my company was asked to take these funds from this event and forward them to the Guerra Family. We refused due to who this company involved was and past unpleasant business dealings. They were given the correct name and address to send the donations back in mid July.
This Does Not affect anyone who donated through my company. It only affects those donations made at and through the fund raiser in Topeka and Severe Studios.
I have asked that the Guerra Family please not take a negative view of the chaser community as a whole. The people who gave, did so with all intent to try and help their family.
If anyone has any information, please post here or send me a Private Message.
(Mods, if this needs to be moved to B&G or somewhere else, please do.)
Thank you.

 

[Kory Hartman]

Re: Guerra Donation

First of all, let me apologize to the Guerra Family and all readers that this topic was brought up in a public forum and not in personal, private communication.

I also sincerely apologize for the exorbitant length of time it took SevereStudios to cut the check to the Guerra’s. I’m sure they greatly need the money and that is why we did the fundraiser in the first place.

At the Topeka Storm Chaser Show, SevereStudios sold T-shirts as a fundraiser in Fabian’s name. Each shirt was $20.00 and we sold 11. Even though that totaled $220, we wanted to give more: our goal was an even $300.

We had to wait for more funds to come in before that goal could be met and time slipped away from us for a myriad of reasons. No excuses, however, we simply took too long to get it done. Much longer than I wanted or expected.

I have never had a direct line of communication to the Guerra’s other than a mailing address. Since I don’t know these people personally I would not feel right contacting them in any other method except written correspondence. Conversely, SevereStudios has a toll-free phone number and our cell phone numbers are well published. I would have welcomed a call from the Guerra’s or any of their representatives at any time. I was not aware the Guerra’s were even told a check was coming from us or that they were expecting it.

The check was written last Friday and it should have arrived by now depending on the US Mail. Here is the carbon copy of that check and the letter that accompanied it:

http://www.severestudios.com/files/guerra-carbon.jpg
http://www.severestudios.com/files/guerra-letter.pdf

As soon as the check is cashed, we can post the canceled check here… if that is truly needed. We welcome phone calls from the family, any of their representatives, or any concerned member of the community about this topic.

Despite the feeling that can be inferred from the above post, the SevereStudios team cares deeply when a life-changing, or in this case life-ending, event happens to fellow chasers.

Another unfortunate event recently happened to Darin Brunin. Last week we were also able to donate a sum of money to Darin and Lexi’s “fire fund” thanks to generous giving from one of our Associate Chasers. I hope Darin has received his check and letter by now as well. You can see the carbon of that check here:

http://www.severestudios.com/files/darin-carbon.jpg

A reminder, over a year ago, we also raised money for the Boy Scouts affected by the Little Sioux tornado. Private donations totaled nearly $2,000.00 and SS management kicked in the rest for a total donation of over $3,500.00 to help the Little Sioux Boy Scouts rebuild ($1,763.69 to the Boy Scouts and $1,763.69 to Camp Ranger Nathan Dean and his family).

At the time of the Boy Scout fundraiser, similar “questions” about our motives and methods were posted here. To finally put that to rest once and for all, here is proof that the Boy Scouts Mid-America Council received their donation:

http://www.severestudios.com/files/scouts.jpg

Let me repeat that this thread is very unfortunate and could have been handled in a more sensitive manner. I would also like to say Kyle Soldani did a great job organizing the Topeka Storm Chaser Show. However, he was NOT directly involved in our fundraiser, other than to spread the word and get me the Guerra’s mailing address, which I received on August 10th.

I have tried to keep Kyle informed via email and facebook regarding the Guerra donation. I don’t know what caused this to escalate to Stormtrack today or why my explanation didn’t make it back to the affected parties.

Huge thanks to each person or organization who donated to ALL recent causes in whatever method was used!

SevereStudios tries our best to serve the chaser world by offering many free services and fellowship in the community as well as fundraisers when needed. I hope this discussion doesn’t detract from our involvement with another festival (Norman) that is happening this weekend.

Please contact me with comments, questions, or concerns either electronically or in person.

Sincerely,

Kory Hartman
(605) 770-1624

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Please use the thread in the Bar and Grill section (Fabian Guerra - FOLLOW UP II) for further discussion relevant to the issues addressed above.