About the Valinda Jones Fund:

The Valinda Jones Fund was created for Valinda Jones, mother of Jason Wright, Indianapolis performing artist alpha.live. Valinda has been diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease/Failure and has been on the kidney transplant waiting list for 5 years. During this time, she has had to do peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis when she was unable to do peritoneal, due to surgery or infection. She has suffered numerous complications: peritonitis (3 times); catheter migration (5 times) requiring surgery to correct; catheter replacement (due to infection) which required 4 antibiotics every day for 6 weeks; severe dehydration requiring hospitalization; hemodialysis after each surgery for 2 - 8 weeks each time; and blood clots (3 times) from central lines due to hemodialysis.

Valinda has been serving in the medical field for over 30 years. She has a Master's degree in Nursing from Indiana University and over her career has held high positions such as Chief Nursing Officer for King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, as well as Director of the Center for Women's Health and Childbirth at Pioneer Hospital and Mulliken Medical Centers in Artesia, CA. Valinda was also recognized in 1988 by Outstanding Women of America, pledged AKA May 11, 1975 at IU Northwest in Gary, IN, Zeta Phi chapter (which unfortunately no longer exists; was replaced with a new chapter), and is still an active member of AWHONN (Association of Women's Health, Obstetrics and Neonatal Nurses).

But now, she needs our help. Valinda has finally been blessed with a donor, but the medical expenses are overwhelming. Hence the creation of The Valinda Jones Fund; a means to help raise money to help cover the enormous cost of these expenses.

April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. There will be a fundraising event Thursday, April 30th, at Morty's Comedy Joint, entitled 'A Piece of Me'. This event will feature the poets of FightingWordsPoetry.com, a special live performance from alpha.live featuring Blackberry Jam and C-Ray, and comedians Chad Daniels and Mike Malone, all hosted by Warren B. Hall. Tickets will be available at Morty's box office or their website (www.MortysComedy.com) with proceeds benefitting The Valinda Jones Fund, as well as a portion of the proceeds being donated to the National Kidney Foundation.

Every donation helps, large or small. If you are interested in donating to The Valinda Jones Fund, donations can be made at all area Teachers Credit Union locations during normal business hours and at all Shared Services Centers. Just ask to make a deposit to The Valinda Jones Fund, account # 4591939. Also a dollar from every greeting card purchased from issa.ino will be donated to The Valinda Jones Fund.

Please come out and support the fundraising event, make a donation or at very least, please forward this on to others able to help. All is greatly appreciated. Thank You.

To donate now click the button below:

For more information on Organ Donor Awareness, visit www.giftoflifefoundation.com.

For more information on the National Kidney Foundation, visit www.kidney.org.