A Big Thank You to...

Andrea Goldblatt for her very successful comedy event in Los Angeles that benefited the Tsunami Relief Fund in honor of Ben. It was a full house at the National Comedy Theater and the entertainment was fantastic. There was even a silent auction where the highest bidder had the opportunity to have a life story improvised on stage. The event was engaging, exciting and fun - all for a great cause. The Abels family is forever touched by Andrea's effort and generosity. Thank you Andrea!

All Are Welcome...

A Celebration of Ben Abels in Boulder, CO
Sunday, Feb. 27 at 3 p.m.

Ben is loved and missed by all who have been blessed to know him. Friends and family of Ben Abels are invited to join in a celebration of his life. Known as a world-travelin’, bluegrass-lovin’, Grommett-the-dog-philosophizing guy, Ben was truly a citizen of the world. Ben attended Miami of Ohio University, lived in Telluride and Boulder during the 1990s, and moved to his hometown of Evanston, Ill., to pursue a career in real estate, a job that allowed him time for travel.

For those who wish to gather to share stories of his intriguing life and the impact he had on us, a celebration of his life will be held at the Boulder Valley Humane Society’s Education Center room on Sunday, Feb. 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Please forward your favorite photo of yourself and Ben to mark@campearth.com, or bring it to the celebration to be scanned. A slideshow during the event is planned, and Ben’s family will receive a volume of the photos for them to meet Ben’s extended “family”. There will be a plaque dedication during the celebration as well, in which a customized tile in Ben’s honor will be permanently housed at the Humane Society. The celebration will be a casual affair, with appetizers and adult beverages.

Donations in Ben’s honor can be made to:

Tsunami Relief Fund in Honor of Ben Abels TRF DAF

Checks may be mailed or delivered to:
Tsunami Relief Fund
2110 Central Street
Evanston, Illinois 60201

Event in LA to Benefit Ben’s Tsunami Relief Fund

Andrea Goldblatt (a relative of Ben’s California cousins Jenny and Alex Mountjoy) has organized an event in Los Angeles to benefit the Tsunami Relief Fund in Honor of Ben Abels. Andrea has sent us the following information. The show has had an overwhelming response and is open to all who are interested.

Andy Goldblatt & ComedySportz Los Angeles Presents…

Comedy for a Cause
Sunday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m.
A night of life-affirming merriment
to benefit the Tsunami Relief Fund in Honor of Ben Abels

Where: National Comedy Theatre
733 N. Seward Street
Los Angeles, CA

Who: Featuring performers from: ComedySportz Los Angeles, Improv Olympic West, PAX TV's World Cup Comedy, Channel 101, Fellowship! The Musical, Older Girls Gone Reasonably Wild, Theatresports, DVDevious, The Mike & Ben Show, Comedy Central's Crossballs, and MORE!

Please join us for a fantastic show, delicious beverages, and plenty of surprises. You can find anything from a massage to cheesecake at this all-star event, and every last dime goes to the immediate and pressing cause of Tsunami relief.

The box office will open at 6 p.m. Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis, for a suggested donation of $10.

For more information on directions and parking, log on to http://www.comedysportzla.com/directions.html

Memorial Service Held

The memorial service for Ben took place on Sunday, Jan. 30. The service, attended by hundreds of people, was a true reflection of Ben in its spirit of love, hope, and sentiment. More details about the service will be posted soon.

Here is a message from the Abels family, read by Todd Musburger to the press prior to the memorial service:

There are no words to describe our feelings today, or for what we have experienced over the past month. Yet, there is so much we need to express to the overwhelming number of people, many of whom we have never met, who have offered their support, their assistance, and their prayers. To all of you, we offer our profound appreciation.

As we gather to celebrate Ben’s life, we realize that he was not only our son and brother, but a true citizen of the world. Over the past several weeks we have been reminded of how many lives he connected with, and the indelible impression he formed. However, we are acutely aware that we share our grief with thousands of other families throughout the world who have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami tragedy. It is important for us to remember that as great as our loss is, it deserves no special place on the list of the countless families who have been affected.

We know that Ben would not approve of our behavior being governed by despair. His spirit and compassion obligate us to attempt to make the world a better place. To both honor his memory and to act in a way befitting his reputation, we will continue to raise funds whenever and wherever we can for the needs that still exist. We hope that all those interested will consider a donation to the relief agency of their choice. As you know, we have established The Tsunami Relief Fund in Honor of Ben Abels. Money raised will be shared with several different relief organizations through the auspices of the Rotary Foundation.

Please visit benabels.com for more information.

Thank you,
The Abels Family

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that made all the difference.

"The Road Not Taken," by Robert Frost