Co-producers of the fundraising photo-book, “Isolated Island – The Key West COVID-19 Spring of 2020,” along with some of the book’s many contributors, presented a “big check” on Wednesday to Sister Season Fund in the amount of $60,000. Pictured are: left, front and back, co-producers Carol Tedesco and Eric Grahl, and seated left, Roberta DePiero; second from left, standing, foreword writer Rosi Ware; Sister Season Fund representatives: first row seated, second from left, treasurer Rick Davis, board president Ryan Macauley, board members Scott McCarthy and Jodyrae Campbell, and second row seated, Executive Director Julie Hanson and board member Sandra Duffey. Contributing photographers pictured are, from top left standing: Susan Bailey, Tony Gregory, Ralph DePalma, Alyson Crean, Linda Klipp, Bill Klipp, Liz Acar, Martha Hubbard, Rob O’Neal, Larry Blackburn, Sharon Wells, Mark Hedden, Peter Arnow and Steve Panariello. Not present are text editor Kathy Russ and photographers Todd Andrew Feit, Heather D. Dow, Kyle Campbell, Michael Blades, Jay W. Hall, Jeffrey Cardenas, Ozlem and Joe Berg, Lynne Bentley-Kemp, Corey Malcom, C.J. Groth, and Andy Newman. (Contributed photo). 

“Isolated Island” Photo-Book Fundraising Tally Revealed

On Wednesday, February 10, Key West’s Sister Season Fund organization revealed the final tally of dollars raised from sales of the recently released, limited edition photo-book, “Isolated Island – The Key West COVID-19 Spring of 2020.”

Originally conceived in early 2020 to be a 200 copy run of an approximately 150-page book featuring the images of 14 area photographers with a goal of raising $10,000, the undertaking soon grew to a 1000 copy run of a 352 page book by more than 25 photographers—collectively called The Key West Photographers Cooperative—all shot during the COVID-19 Spring, defined as running from March 1, when Florida’s first COVID-19 cases were announced, to June 1, the day after the months-long upper Keys checkpoint was dismantled.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to report that “Isolated Island” has been Sister Season Fund’s single largest fundraiser to date, raising $60,000 after expenses,” announced fund treasurer Rick Davis.  “The results have far surpassed everybody’s expectations, and the fund’s board of directors are so grateful for the incredible dedication, hard work, and love of the Key West Photographers Cooperative.

Sister Season Fund Executive Director Julie Hanson said the $60,000 has been used to provide assistance to 60 local households in need. “All the money raised goes back into our community,” Hanson said. “The demand for assistance this past year has been acute due to COVID-19, along with the failure of Florida’s unemployment system. Because so many people who suddenly found themselves unemployed due to the pandemic were not able access their unemployment benefits, they were forced to knock on other doors. Sister Season Fund has been one of those doors.”

Brain-child of Roberta DePiero, and produced by DePiero, Carol Tedesco, and Eric Grahl, “Isolated Island,” which is now sold out— with the exception of the first 10 numbered copies which have been held back for special additional fundraising events— features an array of compelling images, from the dreaminess of Key West sunsets to the stark reality of excruciatingly long food distribution lines. Printing costs were partially covered with a $1000.00 Awesome Foundation Key West grant along with numerous private and public donations.

For more information about Sister Season Fund, whose mission is to prevent homelessness and provide assistance for Key West tourist industry workers, visit www.sisterseason.com, email [email protected], or contact Julie Hanson at 305-304-9828.

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