An Update On The Sean Matti Monument Fund

First of all, I have to offer a big thank you to everyone who tried to contribute for Sean Matti's monument through the GoFundMe project. We raised over $2,000, which is amazing. Since the campaign was an all-or-nothing campaign, however, no one was charged since we did not reach the $9,000 goal.

After speaking with the Matti family they have decided to try again through a more long-term solution. They have set up a memorial fund through their home bank in Minnesota where you can contribute to them directly. This works on multiple levels:

1.       GoFundMe does not take the 7-8% off the top for their costs, so all of your donation goes straight to the Mattis

2.       We're not limited to a 7-day window for fundraising.

3.       If we fall short of the goal the Matti's can consider going with a smaller project or it buys them time with the sculptor to complete the current project.

So here is the original information again:

We have been working on the monument for Sean's grave for 3 years now. Here is what it looks like today.

This is the base and it is 9ft long. The football is Sean's headstone. The remaining pieces to the monument include a bronze statue that will sit on top of a granite block that will look like the base but will only be 1/3^rd as long. The completed monument will be 6ft tall.

The statue is the main reason I am contacting you. Here is the clay sculpture today. It is 3ft tall, 3ft wide and 2ft deep.

I commissioned Arthur Norby, who has created over a dozen monumental sculptures throughout the country over his forty year career; Including Minnesota's Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Minnesota Bridge and Iron Workers Memorial in St. Paul, and the monumental sculptural tribute in Windom, Minnesota, to ex-Green Bay Packer Larry Buhler. I paid him 3k at that time. Arthur is producing the statue at cost or it would cost twice as much. He has been relatively patient, but the time has come to move forward or not.

Travis we need help to do this we are max'd out from our loans for Sean's education, and all the expenses to date to bring Sean's monument to this point. I would appreciate it greatly if you would like to help us yourself or if you can find someone to help us with the statue; we need basically the whole 9k.

I asked a couple people years ago if they would help, but had no luck, and sadly I also found asking people for serious help like this is the fastest way to never hear from them again. I have pretty much given up on asking anyone for anything because of this.

I am now desperate at the end of my 1 month extension.  I need to have a plan soon, with serious money pretty much then, or I won't have a solid plan for the project and will have to give up. I can't and don't have the energy to drag this out anymore, and the sculptor won't let me either.

If you would like to contribute to the fund, here is the information:

Mail to:

Affinity Credit Union

2750 Snelling Ave. N.

Roseville MN. 55113

Check information:

To: Frank Matti

Memo: Monument Fund 1166700