***It's Holy Grail Time for...Tuolumne Mama! (List Included)

At this point, we are no longer taking donations.

I just sent out an update PM to everyone that donated. If I missed anyone, please PM me.

Here is a list of everyone that donated. If I missed anyone, please let me know:

dimitrispearljam
Paulina87
demetrios
mfc2006
greenmanny
Anonymous
Black Diamond
2-feign-reluctance
EZ1221C
Big Drop
Leeze
shep
PJ-Cubs
veddertown
gndcd402
bambam87
number1PJfan
redraw
Release Me
Claireack
Ok
Umbertotamba
jjflash
OGT92
pdalowsky
Mcam55
ahill721
gfnk001
Hub.
boyo79
elwayvedder
LukinFan


It all started a couple of years ago when a bunch of people on the old forum chipped in and bought Demetrios a PJ/RHCP 1991 poster as a Christmas present – basically a way of saying thank you to everything that he does for everyone on the forum. Following D, others including myself, arq, ZiggyStar, mfc2006, dimitrispearljam, Catefrances, Pearl Drummer, and most recently elwayvedder (well very soon at least) have all been graciously awarded their holy grails.

Well, it's that time again - this time it's for Tuolumne Mama (Joni) and her son Little Dirty Tom (Christian)!

As many of you remember, when we started up elwayvedder's holy grail, at first he refused. He felt that there were many more people on this board that deserves it more than him, so I promised him that he could nominate the next person if he let us do him first. This is what he had to say about Joni and her son, Christian:

Tuolumne Mama (Joni) and/or her son (Little Dirty Tom) (his name is Christian) and here is only a little reason why:

Joni and her son Christian have been some through some unbelievable tough times. I don't want to get into their personal lives but these two people deserve a holy grail more than anyone for this and for their never ending efforts to help others.

Joni has been raising Christian without a father his entire life. They both use Pearl Jam as healing medicine. Christian is only a young teen (13?) and has Chrohn's. Christian is a very skilled guitar and patterns himself off of Mike. So besides his love for Mike music wise, Mike is his idol as well. Christian has missed out on simple pleasures in life that we all take for granted, such as going to school, and just plain being a kid due to his sickness and its complications. Joni's health is not good either. Her mother is very ill and Joni takes care of her. These things and more caused Joni's employer to terminate her. So Joni has no job now either.

Their love: I never met Joni until the week of the "Philly 4" at the spectrum. However, she spent countless hours each and every day talking to me via phone and email, helping me with the pre-parties. Things were bad for Petrocs and I. The Spectrum kicked us out from their parking lot, last minute. She helped me stay poised and collective, being able to focus and find alternative venues although they hurt our abilities to raise funds. Leading up to the "Philly 4", Joni spent months, day after day, sending emails, writing letters, making phone calls trying to drum up corporate donations for items we could raffle off. Not only that, but she started her own US Troop collection drop off at her work and lugged these items from Pittsburgh to Philly - from the middle of Philly on a train all the way to The Spectrum!

I can go on and on. Although so many others on here truly deserve their holy grail for "everything they gave and nothing they would take", these reasons and more I haven't shared are why Joni/Christian are my choices for the Holy Grail!

Carry On! Carry On!!
-EV

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As you can see, this one is very special. Joni at first (well really still is) very hesitant about letting us to this for her. She did give me a few suggestions for her son, but nothing for her. Thanks to one of her dear friends on here, we now know that she wants a PJ Laptop Bag. Her son wants a MSG2 2010 Donkey Kong Poster, Mike McCready picks - Mr. Potato Head and the yellow one with the Palm Trees. If anyone has any of these items for sale, please let me know.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=149402

Each time, everyone just chips in what they can, so don't feel like you have to do anything, this is just for the people that would like to say thank you by throwing in a few bucks towards Tuolumne Mama and Little Dirty Tom's holy grails.

After you PM me, I'll send you my paypal address and we'll go from there. If you have any questions, please feel free to PM myself or my partner in crime, Nathan (Fenway Faithful). And if you cannot contribute anything at this time, it's okay, a BUMP will work out nicely. Thanks!