Top It Off

Top It Off Fundraiser

If you are reading this, you probably already know what this is about. Still, I'll give you a quick rundown. Here is a story to start.

The Princess and the Cow

When I was a kid, I played a game called castle with my best friend Vanessa. Vanessa was always quick to yell out, “I want to be the princess!” I had no interest in being the princess. I would respond, “I want to be the cow.” Even as a kid I knew I didn’t quite fit into the traditional scheme of things. See, if the way you feel on the inside doesn’t match what you see on the outside, it can be tough to find your place in the world. The good thing is that today, I can do something about it. I can make adjustments to my outside that will make me more comfortable with myself as a whole. Certainly, if a princess were born in a cow’s body, that princess would probably be pretty upset being treated like a cow for her entire life.

As you know, I am not a cow. I am a graduate student and drag king Maxwell Girth. I am also transgender/gender queer. It is because of this last part of my identity that I am reaching out to you. I am trying to turn a longtime dream into an attainable goal, and to do that I need your help.

This December, I am planning to have top surgery, a relatively common surgical procedure for some transgender individuals. This surgery will help to bring my inside and outside into alignment and will help me to be a happier, more confident person. This is something I have dreamed of for a long time. But, the surgery is expensive, and my insurance provider does not cover the procedure. I will need to pay $6,500 out of pocket, an enormous amount of money for me as a graduate student and artist.

Despite these obstacles, I see top surgery as an important part of my health and happiness. So, I decided to move forward toward my dream. I started saving money from summer work. I am also saving in other small ways—by collecting all of my coins in my Top It Off Savings jar, by recycling glass and plastic, and by saving all of my tips from performing to put towards surgery. Although these efforts will get me part of the way there, I am hoping that you, my friends and family, can help too.

Any donation to my cause that you are comfortable making would be greatly appreciated.

I also want to make clear that both now and in the future, I will always be a helping hand to any of you that are in need. And of course, I will make myself available to help fellow transgender/queer people who need to raise funds for similar procedures.

Thank you again for your positive thoughts, donations, and future attendance to all performances, and I hope to see you at my fundraiser show on October 12th, 2012!

Most Sincerely,

Britton Mauk

The date has been set for my gender confirming top surgery.

December 10th is the day!

That means my goal is becoming real.

Now to more saving, fundraising, and working to achieve my dollar amount goal.

The Top It Off Fundraiser event was a huge success!

Made it to the half way point because of all of your support.

TOP IT OFF THERMOMETER

Reached $1500 marker only $5000 more to go!

Reached first marker of $500 only $6000 more to go!

Reached the half way point! $3300 to go!