In Memory of Lael Summer Feldman has raised $3,150 out of their goal of $25,000
About the Campaign
"I just want to help one person." Lael Summer Feldman
Lael: Our beautiful, brilliant, funny, sassy, talented daughter, sister, niece, cousin, granddaughter and friend who had an infinite space in her heart for helping others learn to love and believe in themselves. It pained her to see others in pain. She was dedicated to inspiring people who suffered with eating disorders and depression, to let them know that they had everything they needed inside of them to manifest their authentic self, that they were perfect as is, and yes, that they could live healthy bountiful lives.
She is/was a singer, a songwriter, a yogi, a best friend, a cat worshipper and a guardian angel for thousands.
Lael struggled throughout her adolescence with body image and depression. She spent her teenage years in and out of various treatment centers; by the time she was 15 she was entering her 5th, a residential treatment center for Troubled Teenage Girls in Utah. She spent 17 months at this center. It absolutely saved her life. She knew it. We all knew it. She went on to finish her senior year of high school in NYC and from there went on to receive her Bachelors of Music from the elite pop music program at USC’s Thornton School of Music. She had released two albums, “Burden to Bear” (2014) and “Life in Color” (2015) on True Groove Records. She was cited as "the one" to watch out for from various music sites: KingsofAR, EarMilk, AbsolutePunk, SoulTracks, RockNYC, PopDose, to name a few. Her songs are an amalgamation of soulful anthems that challenged the negative voices of her eating disorder and depression as well as funky groove tracks that encourages girls to embrace their bodies, their selves, their lives. She also had a great sense of humor and a badass irreverence that permeates all of her work.
After college, Lael worked at PCH, a residential treatment center as an RA and an OCD exposure therapist. The clients loved her and many spoke of Lael as being the pivotal player in their recovery. "She is, hands-down, the reason I am still here" said one former patient. "Lael showed me how to have compassion for myself while still holding myself accountable for my behavior. She called me out on my shit because she knew and I intuitively knew that she knew. And when she sang to us....a bit of heaven opened up."Lael is also one of the authors of the play, “The Pill”, a family memoir written by her mother, brother and grandparents which recently had a run at La MaMA, NYC’s legendary theatre, in January 2018. The play is a true story about how mental illness/eating disorder impacted an entire family. Lael hoped that this play would help to remove the stigma and hush-hush atmosphere often surrounding these issues and open up a dialog. She contributed writings from her journals when she was 12-15 yrs old with the hope that others who suffer will realize they are not alone and she also wanted to show that despite all the 'family craziness' , LOVE, was and is always at the center of it all.We love and miss you Laelly -- forever and ever.
Lael had met Kristina Saffran in an acting class when they were 13. They hit it off and stayed friends throughout the years. She was both impressed and inspired by Kristina and Liana's foundation Project Heal and supported their mission wholeheartedly. She often talked about how much she admired them for doing what they did and how important getting "good" treatment is for recovery. She was hoping to get more involved in helping them further their mission.
Lael lost her battle with depression and suicidality on July 26, 2017. She died by suicide.
Please join us in raising money for Project HEAL to help others access HEALing in Lael's name. We are hoping to open a Communities of HEALing peer support program in her name.
Project HEAL is the largest nonprofit in the U.S. providing access to healing for all people suffering from eating disorders. The cofounders met after recovering from anorexia at 15, and now have 40 chapters worldwide. They have supported over 90 people to access treatment, and are now building the first peer support program for people with eating disorders, Communities of HEALing. For more information, please visit www.theprojectheal.org
Lael singing “The Good Fight” at The Blue Note https://youtu.be/PbLISLLg-uw
Lael singing “It’s About Soul” at The Cutting Room https://youtu.be/UCTRvUHtxls
Lael singing “Make You Whole” at The Blue Note (song used in “The Pill”) https://youtu.be/4VH48ccJvrA
Campaign Activity
See who supports your cause and what they have to say about it!
Zipora Feldman donated $291.76
This is dedicated to my niece Lael whom as you know put up a good fight but, the disease was stronger and mightier than she. She was a beautiful soul in and out and tried sooo hard .She struggled for years but, left us much too soon.All I can say is this disease is a killer and unfortunately it takes over your body,mind and soul.She believed in trying to help others with their struggle..I miss her and think of her and so does the rest of my family..So ;laeli this is for you and your cause in helping others... You are in my heart and always will be..luv u
Sharon Berg donated $25.00
Manon Chevallerau donated $25.00
ronnie ginnever donated $25.00
Love is endless and forever........
$500.00 was donated anonymously
This generous donation was made anonymously by friends of the Feldman Family.