Dan’s Legacy through the Benedix Foundation

Update/Edit: for those who have donated already, hopefully you read my message to the end prior to doing so, where I said that if we couldn’t raise enough to buy the farm (which was a lofty goal, I know…but having a headquarters for the foundation would have been amazing and we could have done so much more if we could have secured it, but I digress) the money would go toward the Benedix Foundation for its general disaster relief items. So it’s not for nothing-Dan’s Legacy will live on & so many people will benefit because of your generosity.

We are very close to losing him. He has meant so much to so many people. He’s done so, so much good. So I suppose we’re in the final push for the saddest fundraiser I’ve ever done. Soon the Board will get together to discuss the best way to distribute funds: the who/what/how much of it all. I’ll keep you posted on that. 

What we are NOT doing is scamming anyone and to have that accusation really needs to turn inward and try to understand their own anger and reasons for thinking such a thing. I can be messaged on here at any time and I’ll be happy to answer asap. If you'd like a refund of your donation, I understand. Just let me know and I’ll do that.

 When Dan and I started dating, he told me he was looking for a piece of property where he could have rescue dogs and land airplanes. That was eight+ years ago, and in that time, just a couple of things changed, which changed everything:

First, Dan fell in love with Orange County. He’d been looking in Wake County for ages but never thought of Orange. He saw the community of Efland because he visited me. Not a month after dating, I got a text: “Please don’t think I’m stalking you, but I found the perfect property and it’s only a few miles from your house.”

Then he proceeded to buy it.

In years to come, the rescue dogs came in, and he built his runway. Planes flew in and landed.

And then, at age 48, Dan was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. Eventually, the 4 rescue dogs and Dan had to move into the subdivision neighborhood—joining me, the three kids, the four cats, and our own 3 rescue dogs. You see, the house has its own beloved story, not to mention amazingly supportive neighbor-friends and a better environment since the farm has always needed some work.

A year and a half after that diagnosis, we decided we needed to sell the farm—between medical bills, the cost of traveling to and from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville every 6-8 weeks, not to mention normal life—something has to give.

But then they started the Benedix Foundation for Disaster Relief.

If you know Dan, he is the helper. He finds the good and believes in everyone. The kids call him the Glue That Holds This Family Together. He’s been the very best stepdad—or father figure, father in general—that anyone could hope for. He should’ve had his own babies, though I’m so glad he got kids. He should’ve been a foster dad—something I always envisioned for us on the farm. He should be here to see his grandbabies, but the chances of that these days are looking slim.

We are running out of time. We need to sell the farm. Since I’ve been added as 1/4 Board Members for the Benedix Foundation (a registered 501c), I’ve decided the Benedix Foundation should buy the farm and make the dreams happen with or without Dan.

But we need the funds to buy it: $750k, the funds to renovate it, and the funds to keep it going for a stipulated amount of time as we build reserves for the future.

For myself, I live simply and thriftily because that’s who I am. I can run the Foundation, with my teammates, with these practices in mind.

I want to help foster kids and have an animal rescue with a low-cost local vet clinic. I want underprivileged kids to know that they can learn to fly—that they are not restricted by current circumstances. I want to dedicate some acreage to a first-time home buyers savings program I’ve dreamed up, so young people aren’t shut out of the market but instead learn responsibility and building of wealth.

There are so many emergencies that can’t wait for the government. I’m tired of waiting for that one to come around.

WE make the changes. WE give what we can. WE are the helpers.

Dan might not be here for it in person, but his spirit surely will be. I need to make sure that spirit knows where to go.

*preliminary note:* IF substantial funds are not raised for purchase of the farm, funds will still be sent to the Benedix Foundation. Benedix foundation.org