About this Event
Join us for this special Happy Hour event to raise funds to support Christopher, a 33 year-old Baltimore city man with severe autism who is virtually non-verbal, was bullied and shot on April 14th, is now a paraplegic and desperately needs our help!
Our goal is to raise $10,000 or more between this in-person event and an online GoFundMe campaign to support his immediate physical, medical and mental health care needs. (Read more about Christopher's story below or on the GoFundMe page.)
Come network with area business profesisonals and meet Christopher and his sister who is now his full-time caretaker. We're also working on having a local "celebrity" in attendance. Stay tuned for the announcement coming soon.
Enjoy cold beverages poured by our Guest Bartenders:
- 5-6 PM - Jeremy Rosendale, World Trade Center Institute and (second name coming soon)
- 6-7 PM - Stacey Smith, Smith Consulting & Events and (second name coming soon)
- 7-8 PM - Guest bartender names coming soon
Prepare to belt out your favorite tune as we'll have Karaoke DJ (name coming soon) providing karaoke services throughout the event.
And take your chance at winning an incredible package of fun, yummy and valuable items we're putting together to raffle off that night.
Event attendance tickets are just $50 and include lite-fare appetizers - including Jimmy's Famous Seafood's famous crab balls and more - from 5-6:30 PM, 2 complimentary drink tickets for beer/wine/non-alcoholic beverages and $15 being donated in your name to support Christopher's care. Can't attend but wnat to support Christopher's care? Donate via the GoFundMe campaign here.
Jimmy's Famous Seafood will be donating 10% of the food and beverage proceeds from the event to Christopher's care. Thank you, Robert "BJ" Parker and the entire team at Jimmy's for this!
Parking: Free parking is available on Jimmy's Famous Seafood's two parking lots as well as along Holabird Avenue.
Larger donation and sponsorship options are available as well.
Questions? Contact one of the event co-hosts: Stacey Smith at [email protected] or 443-844-0047 or Greg Morgan at [email protected] or 410-804-8357.
CHRISTOPHER'S STORY
On the afternoon of April 10, 2024, a 33-year-old, mostly non-verbal man with autism, Christopher, was sitting on his mother’s front porch in West Baltimore when someone came around the corner taunting him. When he tried to defend himself, the bully returned with a gun and shot him. One bullet whizzed past his face. The other hit his back, leaving him a paraplegic. Just like that, Christopher became another innocent victim of the senseless crimes that plague Baltimore city.
Christopher has severe autism, is virtually non-verbal with the mind of an 8-year-old. Now, as a paraplegic, his journey to recovery is daunting. As you might imagine, his medical, physical and mental needs are overwhelming.
“His smile brightens up a room and he gives you that loving feeling,” says his sister, Shannon, who is now his primary caregiver. “He didn’t have an easy life growing up, and I want to give him the support he deserves.” Since moving Christopher into her home, so she can ensure proper care and attention for him, Shannon has enrolled in and completed caregiver classes and even helped educate her children who have asked to help their Uncle Chris, on ways they too can provide care for him.
A single mother of three young kids, Shannon cannot work at this time due to the extensive amount of care her brother requires. His mother has chronic kidney disease and is no longer able to support him. Shannon’s and Christopher’s father was shot and killed in 2016. While another sibling checks in on him, no other family members are able or willing to help.
Christopher is recovering slowly, but it will be a long and costly process, and one that is taking its toll on him physically and emotionally. He is currently seeing a home nurse and a physical therapist, each two times a week. He has been admitted to the hospital on several occasions with complications from his injuries and healing process and will undergo surgery on August 2nd. Additionally, Christopher suffers from recurring nightmares related to the shooting.
Shannon is very protective of her brother and wants to get him the best care possible, motivating him to possibly walk again in the future. She is close to earning her high school diploma, after which she would like to pursue a career in nursing or supporting families like hers in some way.
Her current home is not accessible for a paraplegic, so Shannon is looking to move to a new house with a ramp and wider spaces that will be more suitable for Christopher and her family. Her goal is to relocate to Howard County to escape the violence Christopher has already become a victim to in Baltimore city. Through the introduction of Senator Guy Guzzone of Howard County to the Howard County Housing Authority, she is working towards identifying suitable housing there.
Through all of this, Christopher continues to smile his big smile, bringing happiness to those around him, those that are supporting him at home as well as those providing the professional care he needs to recover and learn how to live life as a paraplegic.
What will your donation support? Your contribution – no matter the size - will help fund expenses big and small related to Christopher’s care and recovery. Our initial goal is to raise enough money to fund immediate needs such as medical supplies, daily living necessities, toiletries, clothing and a wheelchair ramp. Our long-term goal is to support Shannon as she secures new, handicap accessible housing for Christopher and her family and cover Christopher’s ongoing, extensive expenses related to his care and recovery.
“Christopher didn’t deserve what has happened to him,” says Shannon. “And I am on a mission to see that he leads a comfortable and fulfilling life despite this tragedy.”
Your generosity and support will mean the world to Christopher and his family. Thank you for helping in this crucial time. And don't forget to SHARE THIS FUNDRAISER with others.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Jimmy's Famous Seafood, 6526 Holabird Avenue, Baltimore, United States
USD 55.20 to USD 1068.91