With deep sorrow, ASJA has learned of Lori Hall Steele's death on November 19, 2008. We thank everyone who blogged to save this extraordinarily talented young mom's home from foreclosure, bringing her much comfort during her final days. Funeral arrangements and memorial fund information will be posted when available.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. On November 25, 2008 at Bay Pointe Community Church, 6880 Secor Road, Traverse City, MI 49684 (231-922-9882).

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to an education fund for Lori's son Jackson in care of her mother:

Shannon Hall
Northwestern Bank
203 S. Union Street
P.O. Box 809
Traverse City, MI 49685-0809
231-947-0490

ASJA recently held a blogathon to benefit ASJA member Lori Hall Steel, a single mom who was battling chronic Lyme disease and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). She faced the loss of her home to foreclosure because she was too sick to work, but with the help of ASJA members and nonmembers who joined together to blog about Lori's plight, more than $70,000 was raised to help save her home. She was deeply grateful for the support from her colleagues, which brought her much comfort in her final days.

Website: www.savelorishouse.com

Facebook group: Click here

Rachel Weingarten asks everyone with a Facebook profile to change their profile picture to this one on Wednesday, September 18, 2008:
http://www.savelorishouse.com/save%20loris%20house%20small.jpg :

And, change your status line to: "Helping to save Lori's House -- won't you help too? www.SaveLorisHouse.com"

For the latest news about Lori (from Kristen Hains) or donate to Lori's PayPal account, go to hallsteele.blogspot.com.

Newspaper Coverage

Global Village Embraces Ailing Writer

Blogs about Lori

Please join the blogathon -- and send Lori a donation. We're challenging everyone to contribute $25 (or more, if possible.) To read a beautiful essay Lori wrote before becoming ill, click here.

A plea (and if you need relevance, an example of the failure of US healthcare, by Superbug.

A Story About Real World Cooperation, by Kris Bordessa.

A Writer With a Story, by Karen M. Jones.

An Imaginary Friend with Real Need, by A Life Divided.

An Urgent Call for Help, by Patti McCracken.

Appreciating Good Health and Friendship, by Dara Chadwick.

Calling All Superheroes, by Rena Dictor LeBlanc.

The Friend I Never Met, by Irene Levine.

The Friend I Never Met, by Huffington Post.

Got Extra Change Thanks to a Deal on Atlanta on the Cheap, by Atlanta on the Cheap.

Help This Writer (Lori Hall Steele), by Champion of My Heart.

Help a Writer in Need, by Jen. A. Miller.

Help Out a Fellow Freelancer: A Blog-a-thon for Lori Hall Steele, by The Renegade Writer.

Help a Writer in Need, by Jen A. Miller.

Help a Writer in Need--Lori Hall Steele, by Diana Cooks.

Join Us, Help Save Lori's House, by I'm Too Young to Be a Woman This Old.

If you can . . . , by Mary Beth Temple on AlpacaAddict.

If you can . . . , by Mary Beth Temple on Getting Loopy.

It's a Story About Bambi, by Jane Boursaw.

Lori Hall Steele, by Lisa Bakewell.

Lori Hall Steele, by Lisa's Write Spot.

Looking at Lori, by Gertie Cranker's Weblog.

Lori Hall, by Rob Hughes.

Lori Hall Steele, a Boy and Bambi, and Lost In Chicago, by Stephen Morrill.

Lori Hall Steele: A friend who needs our help, by Dawn Weinberger.

The Lori Hall Steele Fundraiser Blog: Blog of the Week, by Janine Adams.

Lori Hall Steele, we're in this together, by Music Road.

Making the World a Better Place, by Air Kisses.

Nobody Wants to Be Bambi's Mother, by Momfidence.

On a Serious Note: A Mom in Need, by Frisco Kids.

Pay it forward--help an ill writer in crisis, by Monica Mhide.

Pay It Forward: Please Help Freelancer Lori Hall Steele, by The Productive Muse, Jenny Cromie.

Save Lori Hall Steele's home, by Pen on Fire.

Sometimes Life Isn't Funny, by Julie Sturgeon.

Spread the Hope: Help Save a Writer's Home, by Full Read with Meredith Resnick.

Taking Care of Our Own: Blogging for Lori, by Karen Berger.

The True Meaning of Family, by Bring the Family.

Save This Single Mom's House, by Mom Logic.

Trying to Save a Life, by Lisa Iannucci.

Want to Feel Better About the World? Click Here to Donate, Babette Feasts.

What Are the Odds, by Stylease Baby Talk.