For Fernando Braga's daughter

When our friend Fernando Braga left us, he was survived by his 9 year-old daughter Zafira. The devastation of mental illness and the lack of resources to properly help the millions of people like Fernando affect not only those suffering but their loved ones as well. Fernando was an Iraq war veteran, a Vassar alumnus, an anti-racist fighter and a good friend. Now we can do something for his daughter. We are taking up a collection to provide what we can to help with Zafira's future. I am a family friend and I worked with Fernando when he was applying for and attending college.  All of the funds collected will be divided between a check, presented to Zafira's mother, Maria, to cover Zafira's current needs and to savings in Zafira's name to use when she turns 18.