The family of the late Jenna Shovlin has launched a fundraiser to support other families who have lost loved ones abroad.
Jenna, 31, passed away suddenly in Manhattan, New York in March of this year. She was laid to rest in her native Kilclooney.
A gifted and creative young woman, Jenna worked as a production assistant with Warner Studios in New York.
She also loved keeping fit and had designed her own brand of gym apparel. Jenna’s fitness and lifestyle brand, called CO2 – Cloud On 2 – has now inspired a fundraiser to give back to The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.
Following Jenna’s month’s mind mass, her family organised an initiative for Jenna’s NYC community to support her legacy and give back to charity at the same time.
Jenna’s friend Maggie Engelhardt is coordinating the initiative, where those who donate $30 or more will be offered some of Jenna’s unsold CO2 merchandise.
Maggie said the apparel was discovered when Jenna’s mother, Kathleen, and her brother, Christopher, returned to New York after Jenna’s funeral in Donegal.
“They had one more meaningful request they asked me to share with Jenna’s NYC community,” wrote Maggie on GoFundMe.
“While Kathleen and I were cleaning out her apartment, we found several boxes of unsold CO2 merchandise. We immediately thought maybe her friends and coworkers would like to have something as a keepsake.
“There were two Irish non-profits (that assist families of Irish citizens who pass away while abroad) that made possible Jenna’s return home to Donegal, the funeral home expenses, the gathering in Queens that many of you attended and her family’s travel back and forth to New York.
“The Shovlin family deeply believes in the importance of paying it forward. It’s a matter of pride to them that Jenna’s community gives back to the organizations that helped bring her home. They especially love the idea that Jenna’s own brand—her work, her creativity—can be part of helping the next family in need.
“That’s why we’ve set up a GoFundMe, where 100% of the proceeds go directly to The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.”
CO2 – Cloud On 2 by Jenna Shovlin
Maggie plans to organise pick-up points for New Yorkers to get CO2 gym towels and CO2 fanny packs and ‘turn her (Jenna’s) passion into purpose and support the next family in need’.
Following the month’s mind mass, Jenna’s family said: “Words cannot adequately express our appreciation to all those who attended Jenna’s wake and funeral and to all those who joined us via webcam from around the world. To those who travelled long distances, sent Mass cards, letters of sympathy, messages of condolence, floral tributes, and generous donations to our chosen charities, please know that your kindness has helped make the sudden loss of our beloved Jenna more bearable. Your prayers and support during this difficult time will never be forgotten. As it is impossible to thank everyone individually, we hope this acknowledgment will be accepted by all as a token of our sincere and heartfelt appreciation.”
To support the GoFundMe campaign, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jennas-legacy
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