The Genii Forum

A rumor is about that Cellini has had a serious stroke at home in Switzerland.

No further news.

Gazzo has posted on a few different places so I thought I'd toss it out here:


"Sad news. Cellini has just recently suffered a stroke. He his in the hospital. So unfortunately Jim won't be coming to the school of busking in Cardiff. But what I intend to do is set up somewhat of a charity fund or a hat pass for JIm.
Adresse checks and get well cards to RIchard Sullivan.

Marianne told me that JIm is in pretty bad shape. I could imagine he is in bad shape financially. So anybody out there would like to send some form of donation this would be really appreciated. I'm sure JIm and Marianne would be over the moon with it.

Thanks
Gazzo "

and,

"Please make checks out to Richard Sullivan
But get well card's to Cellini
here is Jim's home address

Richard Sullivan
Im Roggebode 5

5400 Baden

Switzerland

Jim would love to here from you all
pass the hat for Cellini
G."

I believe a Paypal account has been set up and the funds will be sent to Cellini by Gazzo. Stand by for further details.

Here it is:

cellinifund@beatthecheat.com

I'm happy to announce that in just one day, the Cellini Fund has raised over $400. At each $500 threshold, a check will be cut and sent to Cellini with a list of contributors and their well wishes.

Here's a Direct Link to the Paypal site.

Keep 'em coming!

Donations are still coming in, but slowing a bit. Don't stop now, let's keep this thing going!

Because of how well this method worked in helping Dean Dill I'm creating boxes of goodies that I will sell for $100. ALL profits (plus $5 of my own from each box) will be sent to Jim. I've contacted several friends and companies and have had good response. The boxes will contain:

1. A Jimmy Talksalot Pouch (Sidewalk performers pouch)
2. Loop Ball
3. Cellini Purse
4. Various books
5. Various DVDs
6. Various Vernet items
7. Rainbow Manipulation Balls

As soon as the webpage is available, I'll post it here.
So far, I've had contributions that have either arrived or are on their way from:
KozmoMagic
Vernet
L&L
Magic Inc.
Murphys Magic Supplies
Fun Inc.
Myself
Jimmy Talksalot

To give you an idea of the helpful responses I've received...
I only asked Vernet to send me 10 Dye Tubes (I really like their dye tube). Here was their response....

> Dear Frank:
>
> We are very, very sorry for the news about our good friend and FANTASTIC
> ARTIST Cellini.
>
> We hope for him the very best of the life. We are sure he will very soon
> stay in perfect conditions of health and giving again happiness and
> illusions to the audience.
>

> We have shipped to you yesterday via air mail:
> 1 Doz. DYE TUBE
> 1 Doz. THREE SHELL GAME
> 1 Doz VERNET THUMB TIP CLASSIC
> 1 Doz VERNET THUMB TIP JUNIOR
> 1 Doz THUMB TIP KING SIZE
> 1 Doz THUMB TIP SOFT
> 1 Doz LEVITATOR
> 1 Doz VERNET UNIVERSAL PULL

The webpage for Jim Cellini's Donation Fund is up and ready.

For $100 plus shipping you will get a great deal on great stuff and Jim will receive much needed money.
Details on the page.

http://theambitiouscard.com/aItem.cfm?itemid=48

My goal is to send Jim $1000. I'll keep you posted on the progress.
Thanks to those who have already purchased.

I'm going to increase my goal to $2000. I think with a little bit more word-of-mouth I can send them $2000. We've already surpassed the $1000 mark.

I will soon be sending Jim a bank wire for a small amount to make sure the process works properly. Once I hear back that they have received the funds I'll be prepared to send the rest once the sale is over. I'll try to send them a wire today and see how it goes.

From my calculations, to get to $2000, we have to sell approx. 10 more boxes.
Tell your friends!

4 more boxes to go. Thanks to all that have contributed.
I've contacted Jim and Marianne to get their exact wiring instructions and soon they will get their donations.

Frank

I went to the bank today and send Jim $1500.00 USD.
After I figure out the damages I will send him the remainder.

Thanks to each of you in helping make this a reality.

i can't get over how much people are donating.
and all the fundraisers that are going on.

it.is.insane!

Cellini is a very well-liked man.

I am sure he a very well-liked man.

I'm just very surprised.

Considering when my dad had his
massive stroke, all he got was a signed
card to get well from a bunch
people during Abbott's Magic Get
Together, and a few other friends.

Jay Marshall, George & Betty Johnstone
came up to visit him a couple of times
and had lunch when he was in inpatient
rehab.


I am just noticing a big difference in support
with the how the magic community comes together
for certain people.

It might be worth noting that the majority of Frank's donation comes from the Busking community, where Jim has a lot of friends, and students.

Take care, Ian

Any updates on Jim's recovery?

Comparing donations or counting get-well cards seems meaningless to me.

Maybe you or your father would have gotten them (or more) if you had asked for them?

Maybe Jim Cellini would not have gotten any support were it not for people like Gazzo or Frank Starsinic taking admirable actions?

From Gazzo on Sunday, who had spoken with Marianne earlier, Jim has lost his sight, and it may not come back.

Ian

Zig Zagger wrote:Comparing donations or counting get-well cards seems meaningless to me.

Maybe you or your father would have gotten them (or more) if you had asked for them?

Maybe Jim Cellini would not have gotten any support were it not for people like Gazzo or Frank Starsinic taking admirable actions?

Why would you expect my father to ask for something when
he was fighting for his life in the hospital recovery from
a cranitomy (AKA brain surgery) from his the stroke that
caused a massive bleed?

And my mother and I were busy with own finances, worries and getting everything else in order, so to ask for help wasn't
our top priority. Focusing on my father was our top priority.

I'm just noting how a community come together for certain people.

Ian Kendall wrote:From Gazzo on Sunday, who had spoken with Marianne earlier, Jim has lost his sight, and it may not come back.

Ian

I'm sorry to hear about loosing his sight.
But its early and you can regain almost anything you loose.
To a point. The brain is a miraculous thing.

My father lost his left side completely. The basal ganglia
that controlled balance and motor coordination was completely
destroyed. Which meant he could not sit up or stand up
because those muscles were weakend. They didn't expect much
out of my dad. In fact after his surgery they didn't know
the outcome. 10 years post stroke he is still thriving.
Its hard no matter how you look at it. It takes a lot of
focusing from the family with love and support to help
the survivor thrive.

I just figured it out.

It's been right in front of our faces this entire time:

Mai-Ling is Glenn Bishop in drag.

It explains everything, really.

It might also be worth noting that in 98 the internet was a very different beast, certainly without the plethora of magic based fora that we have now. Global communication was harder then. Ten years later news is often on the other side of the world in minutes.

Take care, Ian

The factors that led to me helping Jim were:
I met him at his lecture.
I liked his magic.
I worked with him to make his pouches thanks to Kozmo getting us in touch.
So I got to know him just a little bit.
I also have a respect for any street performer. It's not an easy lifestyle on the performer or their family.

If I had just made a simple donation it would not have been so great. But I thought I could spend the same amount of money and help create a larger donation with the help of people that had the same fondness for Jim and his work that I did. Plus people like getting a good deal on magic and it was going to a good cause.

Since I had already done something similar for Dean Dill a few years ago, I figured the method would work again. I just had a bit more guts this time and asked dealers to contribute "free stuff" to the package, which many of them were willing to do.

A lot of skeptics (lazy people that don't come up with their own ideas) I know are wondering what i'm getting out of the deal. Well, besides spending a few hundred of my own dollars with nothing in return I did end up with one little tidbit.

A vernet levitator. I snagged it out of the stuff VERNET sent to me and I've been playing with it ever since. I levitated my cell phone in front of my kid and instead of rolling his eyes he said "do that again". When that happens you know it's got to go straight into the act.

First and hopefully the last time I'll ever spend $300 on a thumb tip.