Emily Zamourka - Subway opera singer in LA
Donation protected
***FRIDAY OCTOBER 4th UPDATE***
Ok, what started off as wanting to help Emily with $15 on a late Sunday night has turned into something incredible. To recap, I was watching the news late Sunday night, got moved by Emily’s story and went to gofundme to chip in, noticed no account had been set up when I entered her first and last name - so decided to do one myself.
Went to sleep, woke up and it was nearly at $1,000 and growing. As more attention to Emily’s story occurred the donations kept coming in - from the media accounts I have seen her life has taken a turn for the positive and on my end it has been very intense. I have received hundreds of emails and FB requests/questions which totally makes sense, but I am no expert in this and like you, I just want the best for Emily so she can get back on her feet and live her life. I live in LA, but have never met Emily. Currently, LA Councilman Joe Buscaino’s office has been communicating with her and they know my goal is to give Emily control of this account when she is ready for it. I haven’t touched any of the money, nor will I ever. Because Emily is homeless communication between her and I hasn’t been simple so going through the councilman’s office has served our purposes for now.
For all the folks who have e-mailed me about donating a violin, housing, a job for her those emails have been saved and when Emily is ready she can read each one and go from there. Because I don’t represent her, it wouldn’t be fair to move forward on any of these offers without her permission/involvement and blessing. I believe we will be making contact soon, so this account can go from a random person who created it to helping Emily no longer be homeless and giving her everything she needs, including her violin.
From what I can tell she has gotten A LOT of press attention, so she is sort of busy I take it.
Also know the folks at GoFundMe and I communicate several times a day - they have been great, the support of everyone donating has been amazing. This situation that I have gotten myself into has been really interesting and a learning experience just navigating all of this.
So thank you for the emails, questions and advice from everyone, and one last thing between the two largest GoFundMe accounts set up - donors have given over $100,000 earmarked to change Emily’s life forever!
Thank you.
Ok, what started off as wanting to help Emily with $15 on a late Sunday night has turned into something incredible. To recap, I was watching the news late Sunday night, got moved by Emily’s story and went to gofundme to chip in, noticed no account had been set up when I entered her first and last name - so decided to do one myself.
Went to sleep, woke up and it was nearly at $1,000 and growing. As more attention to Emily’s story occurred the donations kept coming in - from the media accounts I have seen her life has taken a turn for the positive and on my end it has been very intense. I have received hundreds of emails and FB requests/questions which totally makes sense, but I am no expert in this and like you, I just want the best for Emily so she can get back on her feet and live her life. I live in LA, but have never met Emily. Currently, LA Councilman Joe Buscaino’s office has been communicating with her and they know my goal is to give Emily control of this account when she is ready for it. I haven’t touched any of the money, nor will I ever. Because Emily is homeless communication between her and I hasn’t been simple so going through the councilman’s office has served our purposes for now.
For all the folks who have e-mailed me about donating a violin, housing, a job for her those emails have been saved and when Emily is ready she can read each one and go from there. Because I don’t represent her, it wouldn’t be fair to move forward on any of these offers without her permission/involvement and blessing. I believe we will be making contact soon, so this account can go from a random person who created it to helping Emily no longer be homeless and giving her everything she needs, including her violin.
From what I can tell she has gotten A LOT of press attention, so she is sort of busy I take it.
Also know the folks at GoFundMe and I communicate several times a day - they have been great, the support of everyone donating has been amazing. This situation that I have gotten myself into has been really interesting and a learning experience just navigating all of this.
So thank you for the emails, questions and advice from everyone, and one last thing between the two largest GoFundMe accounts set up - donors have given over $100,000 earmarked to change Emily’s life forever!
Thank you.
Organizer and beneficiary
Michael Trujillo
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
Emily Zamourka
Beneficiary