Susan von Seggern

Public Relations

Honey Gold Brings Immersive Audio/Visual Experience to Baton Rouge and San Francisco in Late June

06/22/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Performances take place June 25 at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol and June 28 at Audium in San Francisco.

Events release

BATON ROUGE, LA — Honey Gold, the immersive audio/visual collaboration created by Louisiana artists Sariah Sizemore and Taylor Matherne, will present performances in Baton Rouge on June 25, 2026, and San Francisco on June 28, 2026, continuing the project’s growing evolution as a live immersive audiovisual experience blending original music, voice, sound design, projection-mapped visuals, and meditative storytelling.

The June 25 Baton Rouge performance will take place inside the historic House Chamber Room at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol at 7 p.m. The performance marks one of the first immersive audio/visual events of its kind presented within the space. Tickets are available at: Honey Gold Tickets.

On June 28, Honey Gold travels to San Francisco for two performances at Audium at 5 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. Audium is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in immersive and spatial sound, making it a particularly meaningful venue for the project’s Bay Area presentation. The evening will include a site-specific installation experience inside Audium’s lobby and theater spaces, blending projection, sound design, candlelight, and live performance into an immersive sensory environment. Tickets are available at: Honey Gold @ Audium Tickets.

Honey Gold was co-created by Sizemore and Matherne as a shared artistic vision, shaped by their experiences as artists born and raised in Louisiana who used music and art to process the complexities, intensity, and emotional realities of growing up in the South. The project is also informed by Sizemore’s decades in the Bay Area’s experimental audio/visual and healing arts communities, blending immersive performance, original music, projection-mapped visuals, and emotionally restorative experiences designed to help audiences reconnect with themselves and each other.

Matherne, a multi-instrumentalist, bassist, composer, and touring musician, brings years of live performance experience spanning blues, experimental music, and immersive sound-driven composition. Sizemore’s background spans music, immersive healing arts, and more than two decades working in the technology industry, including leadership roles supporting audio software and hardware development at companies such as Avid and Native Instruments. Together, those experiences continue to shape Honey Gold’s intersection of art, meditation, music, technology, and visual storytelling.

Together, they developed Honey Gold as an experience designed to move audiences through tension, release, reflection, awe, and emotional connection, using layered music, immersive visuals, sound-healing elements, and a carefully shaped spatial atmosphere.

“Both Baton Rouge and the Bay Area have expanded my world creatively throughout my lifetime,” said Sizemore. “Coming back home to Baton Rouge and meeting Taylor through the local live music scene brought those worlds together in a way I never expected. His artistry as a musician and the intimacy of creating together as partners helped shape Honey Gold into something deeply personal for both of us. This project really grew out of our shared love of music, immersive art, healing, and creating spaces where people can breathe, feel, and reconnect during a really intense moment in the world.”

The visual dimension of Honey Gold is collaboratively created by the Honey Gold creative team, led by Creative Director Taylor Stoma and Visual Art Lead Ryan Golden, with overarching visual curation and creative direction guided by Sizemore and Matherne. The project’s immersive visual environments combine layered visual storytelling, projection mapping, archival and contemporary imagery, and reactive visual systems designed specifically for each venue and performance environment.

Honey Gold debuted in July 2025 at the Virginia and John Noland Black Box Studio inside the Cary Saurage Community Arts Center in Baton Rouge. A second Baton Rouge performance followed at the City Club of Baton Rouge in January 2026.

The project is fiscally sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, which serves as Honey Gold’s nonprofit umbrella as the team continues developing larger immersive productions, future full-dome film work, and expanded performances in new markets.

On October 3, 2026, Honey Gold will present a special adapted live performance inside the Irene W. Pennington Planetarium at the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge. The team is also actively fundraising for a future full-dome film version of Honey Gold, currently planned for completion in 2027.

Tax-deductible donations supporting the Honey Gold project can be made through the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge at:
Arts Council Donation Portal
(Please include “For Honey Gold” in the donation note.)
Recent media coverage and interviews:

  • 225 Magazine Feature on Honey Gold & Sound Baths in Baton Rouge
  • Arts Council Podcast Interview with Honey Gold

For more information:
Honey Gold Official Website
Media Contact:
Susan von Seggern
susan@susanvonseggern.com
213-840-0077

Filed Under: Art, Entertainment, Events, Music

The Fighting Quaker Brings America’s 250th Birthday to the Stage in a One-Night Benefit Event at El Portal Theater

04/24/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Historic Live Drama Honors the Man Who Hand-Wrote the Declaration of Independence, Benefiting the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA — Producers Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, Dale Fabrigar, and Nicole Mendez announce The Fighting Quaker, a landmark theatrical event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, on Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. at the iconic El Portal Theater, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601. Directed by Bryan Rasmussen and written by the late Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis and Tricia Aurand, the 40-minute drama brings to life the remarkable and largely forgotten story of Timothy Matlack — the man who hand-inscribed the final official copy of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

The evening is a fundraiser benefiting the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation (MNITF), which raises awareness for kidney disease and organ donation. The event will include a festive food and drinks reception, gift bags, a VIP gifting suite, and an exclusive meet-the-cast experience following the performance. Attire is cocktail and business.

The Fighting Quaker traces Matlack’s journey from debtor’s prison to the halls of the Second Continental Congress, where — on the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin — he took quill in hand and preserved the most important document in American history. A colonel who crossed the Delaware, and later championed the abolition of slavery, Matlack was a man whose convictions grew stronger even as his world grew harder. The play’s message resonates far beyond the 18th century: studies show that writing by hand activates more brain circuits than typing, strengthening memory, comprehension, and language development — and in today’s digital world, Matlack’s act of penmanship stands as both legacy and call to action.

“I hope we can inspire audiences not only to reflect on our nation’s history but also reconnect with this simple, powerful act of writing,” says producer Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis, herself a descendent of Timothy Matlack and the daughter of playwright Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis, who first brought this story to the stage in 1968.

The production is sponsored by the Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation.

Event Details:

  • Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • Location: El Portal Theater, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601
  • Tickets: MNITF.org
  • Attire: Cocktail & Business

# # #

About Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis Productions
A Hollywood producer with more than 100 productions and four decades of experience, Suzanne Matlack DeLaurentiis is the first filmmaker to receive a civilian accommodation medal from the United States military for her service to veterans. She was honored with a second medal by the Order of Saint Maurice in 2025. She is a descendant of Timothy Matlack and the daughter of the play’s original author, Ann Matlack DeLaurentiis. https://suzannedelaurentiisproduction.com/

About MNITF:
The Mendez National Institute of Transplantation Foundation advances research, education, and awareness around organ donation and kidney disease. For more information, visit https://mnitf.org/.

Filed Under: Benefit, Charity, Music, Theater

Grammy-Winning Guitarist Jim “Kimo” West and Billboard Top-10 New Age Artist Joss Jaffe Release Delphinus, an Immersive Ocean-Inspired World/Ambient Album, on All Platforms Today

04/24/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Third Collaboration on Artizen Records Weaves Global Acoustic Instruments and Sound Healing Into a Meditative Tribute to the Ocean and the Dolphin
LOS ANGELES, CA – March 30, 2026 – Grammy-winning Hawaiian slack-key legend and Weird Al Yankovic’s 40+ year guitarist Jim “Kimo” West, and Billboard Top-10 New Age artist Joss Jaffe today release Delphinus on all streaming platforms via Artizen Records. The duo’s third studio collaboration is their most immersive and focused statement yet — an ocean-inspired world/ambient journey that evokes the sensation of moving through water: weightless, luminous, and calm.

Drawing its name from Delphinus, the dolphin constellation, the album charts an underwater narrative through track titles like “Party Wave,” “Thermocline,” “Echolocation,” “Underwater Sunrise,” and “Wake Riding.” Lifelong surfers, swimmers, and ocean lovers, Jaffe and West channel decades spent in and on the water into a meditative tribute to the ocean and to the playful dolphin — master of the waves. Mastered by JJ Golden of Golden Mastering, Delphinus invites deep listening while working beautifully as a transportive background for yoga, spa, massage, bodywork, and contemplative practices.

The album’s release day focus track, “Underwater Sunrise,” is a showcase for the duo’s masterful blending of global acoustic instruments. Opening with a mysterious, shimmering guitar lick, the song unfolds into a lilting 6/8 rhythm driven by Indian Tabla drums and world percussion. Layers of unique melodic passages — including West’s signature Hawaiian slack-key guitar and Jaffe’s Ngoni African harp — build an evocative soundscape that captures the feeling of shafts of light traveling through the ocean depths, as if seen from the perspective of a dolphin watching the sunrise.

“Deepest Blue” is a standout secondary focus track and a deeply ambient relaxation piece crafted specifically for yoga, spa, massage, and wellness settings. The Ngoni African harp — similar in character to the West African Kora — opens with a hypnotic ostinato, soon joined by harmonic guitar passages, cello, and layered harmonies that build into something rich, meditative, and profoundly relaxing. The track is equally well-suited for study and concentration playlists. Jaffe and West have previously earned placement on spa and wellness playlists on Sirius XM Radio, Pandora, Spotify, and Apple Music Editorial Yoga & Wellness playlists.

West’s fluid, melodic guitar lines and deep Hawaiian reverence weave throughout the album alongside Jaffe’s arsenal of global textures: Ngoni African harp, Indian tabla, South Indian kanjira, Ipu Heke Hawaiian percussion, shakers, and more. Their previous collaborations, Aum Akua (2022) and Santhi (2024), have earned hundreds of thousands of streams and strong support across yoga, wellness, and ambient communities.

Filed Under: Music

Grammy Winner Jim “Kimo” West and Billboard Top-10 Artist Joss Jaffe Dive Deep with Today’s Single, “Thermocline” from Upcoming Delphinus Album

04/24/2026 by Susan von Seggern

LOS ANGELES, CA — March 23, 2026 — Acclaimed world music duo Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West announce today’s release of “Thermocline,” the latest single from their immersive, ocean-inspired album Delphinus, arriving March 30 on Artizen Records. Building on their recent singles “Party Wave” and “Wake Riding,” the track drops on all major streaming platforms, inviting listeners into a meditative yet emotional underwater soundscape.

“Thermocline” showcases a rich palette of global acoustic instruments, including Ngoni African harp, Indian tabla drums, ‘Ili‘ili Hawaiian river stones, and West’s signature Hawaiian slack-key guitar. The piece opens with a flowing 12/8 arpeggio that gradually builds into powerful crescendos as the instruments trade motifs, at times echoing jazz-like interplay between guitar, Ngoni, tabla, and a shimmering tapestry of sound. The result is both elated and wistful, evoking layered emotional currents that mirror the ocean’s thermocline, where warm surface waters give way to deeper, cooler depths.

Drawn from the dolphin constellation that inspired Delphinus, “Thermocline” continues the album’s narrative journey that includes tracks like singles “Party Wave,” “Wake Riding,” plus “Echolocation,” and “Underwater Sunrise,” each mapping a different facet of life beneath the waves. Lifelong surfers, swimmers, and ocean-lovers, Jaffe and West channel decades in and around the sea into a work that feels equally at home on spa, yoga, meditation, and relaxation playlists.

“On ‘Thermocline’ we wanted to capture that feeling of moving through different emotional layers in the water—joy on the surface, mystery and longing as you go deeper,” says Joss Jaffe. “The global instruments converse with each other like currents shifting around you.”

“This track dives further into our oceanic universe,” adds Jim ‘Kimo’ West. “The 12/8 pulse, the slack-key textures, and the subtle jazz inflections are all about creating a space where listeners can drift, reflect, and feel uplifted at the same time.”

A Grammy-winning Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and 40+ year lead guitarist for “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jim “Kimo” West brings deep Hawaiian roots, lyrical phrasing, and a meditative sensibility to the project. Joss Jaffe, a Billboard Top-10 New Age artist, is known for his work as a vocalist, tabla player, producer, and multi-instrumentalist at leading yoga and wellness festivals around the world. Together, their previous collaborations Aum Akua (2022) and Santhi (2024) have earned hundreds of thousands of streams and strong support across yoga, wellness, and ambient communities, setting the stage for Delphinus, their most focused underwater odyssey yet, mastered by JJ Golden of Golden Mastering.

Call to Action
“Thermocline” is available on all major streaming platforms starting today, with the full Delphinus album arriving March 30 on Artizen Records. For interview requests with Joss Jaffe and Jim “Kimo” West, or details on upcoming live events—including the March 28 Los Angeles release show at Zula Den—please see the media contact below.

About Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West
Joss Jaffe is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, tabla player, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose albums, including Meditation Music and Dub Mantra, blend ambient, world, and contemporary influences and have reached the Billboard Top-10 New Age chart. Jim “Kimo” West is a Grammy-winning ki ho‘alu (Hawaiian slack-key) guitarist, multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominee, and the longtime lead guitarist for “Weird Al” Yankovic, with tens of millions of streams across his catalog. Together, they create immersive soundscapes that bridge global acoustic instruments, sound-healing sensibilities, and modern production for yoga, wellness, and world music audiences.

Filed Under: Music

Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West Celebrate New Album Delphinus, With Release Gig at Zula Den in West Adams on March 28

03/28/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Los Angeles, CA — Get ready for an unforgettable night of music as top 10 artist on Billboard’s New Age chart Joss Jaffe and Jim “Kimo” West, well known for his thirteen-album catalog of slack key guitar that has won him a Grammy and two nominations, as well as his decades of work as “Weird Al” Yankovic’s guitar player, perform tracks from their third album together Delphinus. The concert starts at 7pm on March 28, 2026, at Zula Den at 4011 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016. Tickets are available here.

Joss Jaffe and Jim “Kimo” West will perform selections from their new album Delphinus, set for release on March 30. They will also play music from their earlier projects, the much-streamed 2022 debut album Aum Akua and their critically acclaimed sophomore effort, 2024’s Santhi. Delphinus draws inspiration from both West & Jaffe’s lifelong love of the ocean as both are surfers, swimmers, watermen, and divers. The music evokes the playfulness of the Dolphin at home in the underwater world and master of the waves. Recorded by West and mastered by John Golden, Delphinus’ global fusion promises an immersive experience.

This album release show will reveal the artistry that has garnered Jaffe and West critical and fan acclaim. This special celebration will launch Jaffe and West’s latest transcendent collaboration. We encourage yoga, meditative and world music fans to experience the magic of these diverse musical talents live on stage. Tickets are available here.

Jaffe and West’s first single from the album, “Party Wave” will be released on all platforms Friday March 6. “Party Wave” features instruments from around the world, including Ngoni African harp (a relative of Kora), Indian Tabla drums, and Kimo’s signature Hawaiian Slack-Key guitar. The song immediately starts with an infectious 4 on the 4 afro-highlife beat punctuated by Ngoni African Harp and Kimo’s uplifting, tropical guitar sounds. This song is reminiscent of their track Blossom which was editorially playlisted on Spotify’s “Cafe Africa” and remains on that editorial playlist today.

Filed Under: Music

Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West Release Euphoric Second Single “Wake Riding” from Delphinus Album Today

03/16/2026 by Susan von Seggern

LOS ANGELES, CA – March 16, 2026 – Grammy-winning guitarist Jim “Kimo” West and Billboard Top-10 New Age artist Joss Jaffe unveil their second single “Wake Riding” from the upcoming album Delphinus, out March 30 on Artizen Records. Dropping today on all streaming platforms, the track captures the playful energy of dolphins surfing ocean waves through a fusion of global acoustic instruments.

“Wake Riding” opens with a dreamy riff from Kimo West‘s signature Hawaiian slack-key guitar, swelling into a euphoric cascade of sounds featuring Ngoni African harp (a kora relative), Indian tabla drums, and Bansuri bamboo flute. This immersive world-ambient piece evokes weightless joy beneath the waves, building on the duo’s prior hit “Blossom,” which earned an editorial spot on Spotify’s “Café Africa” playlist and continues to its popularity with over 700,000 plays and counting.

Drawing from the Delphinus constellation theme, the “Wake Riding” mirrors the ocean-inspired narrative of the album’s first single “Party Wave” (released March 6), celebrating dolphins as “masters of the waves.” Lifelong ocean enthusiasts, Jaffe and West infuse decades of surfing and swimming into this sound-healing journey, perfect for yoga, spa, meditation, and chill playlists.

“The instruments from around the world create a sense of universal playfulness, like dolphins riding a boat’s wake,” says Joss Jaffe. “It’s a moment of pure, shared euphoria in the water.”

“This builds on our oceanic vibe but dives deeper into dreamy, expansive textures,” adds Jim “Kimo” West. “We hope it transports listeners to that magical, carefree space.”

Jim “Kimo” West, a Grammy winner for Hawaiian slack-key album More Guitar Stories, and “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 40-year+ guitarist, pairs seamlessly with Joss Jaffe, a Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist known for wellness festival performances and Billboard New Age Top-10 albums like Meditation Music. Their prior releases Aum Akua (2022) and Santhi (2024) have amassed hundreds of thousands of streams; Delphinus, mastered by JJ Golden, promises their most cohesive underwater odyssey yet.

About Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West
Joss Jaffe fuses ambient, world, and modern sounds as a vocalist, tabla master, and producer for yoga/wellness audiences. Jim “Kimo” West delivers meditative slack-key with Hawaiian roots and global appeal. Together, they craft transportive soundscapes for healing and relaxation.

Filed Under: Music

RallyUp 2.0 Empowers Nonprofits to Tackle Funding Cuts and Staff Burnout with the Industry’s First Full Fundraising Stack

03/09/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Phoenix, AZ — March 9, 2026 — In a year defined by economic uncertainty and tightening government budgets, nonprofits are feeling the financial squeeze more than ever. A new Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) report reveals that changes in government funding and staff burnout remain the two biggest challenges for nonprofit leaders. In response, RallyUp, a leading online fundraising platform trusted by over 55,000 nonprofits, today announced RallyUp 2.0, introducing the RallyUp Fundraising Stack—a breakthrough fullstack fundraising system that democratizes enterprise class fundraising for organizations of every size.

Unlike traditional fundraising software that requires costly subscriptions or long-term contracts, RallyUp 2.0 is free or pay-as-you-go, giving nonprofits access to sophisticated, professional grade fundraising tools without financial barriers.

The First Full Stack for Fundraising
Building on years of innovation, RallyUp 2.0 brings together every major fundraising format—raffles, auctions, galas, peer-to-peer, crowdfunding, storefronts, and more—on one connected platform. Each component can stand alone or be “stacked” to create multiactivity campaigns that engage donors in various ways.

For in-person fundraising events, RallyUp now powers upscale galas and live events with next level features like live auctions, silent auctions, fund-a-need paddle raises, live event displays, QR code check-in, and automated checkout. These tools streamline event execution, delight donors, and help nonprofits raise significantly more with much less stress.

RallyUp users can check out a video overview of the RallyUp fundraising stack here and/or attend a webinar to gain further understanding of the stack on March 4 at 11am PT/2pm ET. RSVPs for the free webinar are here.

Easing the Pressure on Overworked Staff
To directly address staff burnout, RallyUp 2.0 introduces Done for You Services, a suite of professional fundraising services provided at no additional cost. Nonprofits can choose Create My Campaign, where RallyUp experts optimize fundraisers—from custom art to compelling copy before handing the campaign off to the client for execution. RallyUp’s experts can also help guide strategy, timing, and promotion. Even better, expert reviews and campaign optimizations remain free for all customers, ensuring access to professional quality results without hiring outside consultants.

A Smarter, More Sustainable Model
According to Independent Sector’s Health of the U.S. Nonprofit Sector Report, technology innovation that improves efficiency is the top driver of sustainability for nonprofits nationwide. RallyUp 2.0 meets that need with the industry’s easiest launch process—most users launch their first campaign in under three hours.

Pricing: RallyUp remains contract free, subscription free, and accessible to any organization worldwide through flexible free and pay-as-you-go options.

“RallyUp 2.0 is about leveling the playing field,” said Steve Bernat, RallyUp’s founder and CEO. “We’re bringing the sophistication of enterprise fundraising systems to every nonprofit—without the cost or complexity. The goal is simple: make fundraising easy, professional, and rewarding for everyone involved.”

About RallyUp
RallyUp is a global fundraising platform that makes professional campaigns designed to delight donors and drive results. With an average 38% increase in funds raised and a 97% donor satisfaction rating, RallyUp has become the platform of choice for global charities, national nonprofits, schools, churches, and other organizations.

Learn more at rallyup.com.

Filed Under: Charity, Tech

Grammy Winner Jim “Kimo” West and Billboard Top-10 Artist Joss Jaffe Drop Uplifting New Single “Party Wave” Ahead of Delphinus Album

03/06/2026 by Susan von Seggern

LOS ANGELES, CA – March 6, 2026 – Acclaimed world music duo Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West announce the release of “Party Wave,” today on Artizen Records. The track is the leading single from their forthcoming third collaborative album, Delphinus, blending global acoustic instruments with Hawaiian slack-key guitar and ambient textures, the track channels the joy, flow, and freedom of dolphins at play in the ocean.

“Party Wave” rides in on an infectious four-on-the-floor afro-highlife beat, punctuated by Ngoni African harp (a relative of the kora), Indian tabla, South Indian kanjira frame drum, Ipu Heke Hawaiian gourd drum, and West’s signature Hawaiian slack-key guitar. Bright, tropical guitar lines dance with shimmering global percussion, creating a buoyant, euphoric soundscape that feels equally at home on world, spa, yoga, and feel-good chill playlists. The track echoes the duo’s earlier song “Blossom,” which was selected for Spotify’s “Café Africa” editorial playlist, resulting in over 700,000 plays, while expanding their palette into even more playful, oceanic territory.

Inspired by the dolphin constellation that gives Delphinus its name, “Party Wave” explores the idea of dolphins as masters of the waves, riding swells together with a sense of communal joy. The title nods both to surf culture—a “party wave” being a wave surfed by multiple people—and to the song’s party-like, celebratory energy. Lifelong surfers, swimmers, and ocean-lovers, West and Jaffe pour decades spent in and on the water into this track as a tribute to Mother Ocean and her most playful inhabitants.

“On ‘Party Wave,’ we wanted listeners to feel like they’re gliding just under the surface—weightless, uplifted, and totally at home in the water,” says Joss Jaffe. “It’s our love letter to the sea and the dolphins that have inspired us for so many years.”

“With all the turmoil in the world, creating something joyful and hopeful felt essential,” adds Jim ‘Kimo’ West. “The groove, the global instruments, the dolphin imagery—it’s all about reconnecting with simple, natural happiness.”
A Grammy-winning Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and longtime lead guitarist for “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jim “Kimo” West brings deep Hawaiian roots, lyrical phrasing, and a meditative sensibility to the project. Joss Jaffe, a Billboard Top-10 New Age artist, is known for his work as a vocalist, tabla player, and multi-instrumentalist at leading yoga and wellness festivals worldwide. Together, they have crafted an immersive, ocean-inspired journey on Delphinus, following their well-received collaborations Aum Akua (2022) and Santhi (2024).

Call to Action
“Party Wave” is available on all major streaming platforms now, with the full Delphinus album arriving March 30. For early listening links, interview requests with Joss Jaffe and Jim “Kimo” West, or details on upcoming live events, please see the media contact below.

About Joss Jaffe & Jim “Kimo” West
Joss Jaffe is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, tabla player, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose albums, including Meditation Music and Dub Mantra, fuse ambient, world, and modern influences and have reached the Billboard Top-10 New Age chart. Jim “Kimo” West is a Grammy-winning ki ho’alu (Hawaiian slack-key) guitarist, a multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominee, and the longtime lead guitarist for “Weird Al” Yankovic, with tens of millions of streams across his catalog. Together, they create immersive soundscapes that bridge global acoustic instruments, sound-healing sensibilities, and contemporary production for yoga, wellness, and world music audiences.

Filed Under: Music

Charleston Animal Society Launches 10th Hank & Laurel Greer Lifesaving Car Raffle at Paws in the Park

02/25/2026 by Susan von Seggern

CHARLESTON, SC – February 25, 2026 – Charleston Animal Society is kicking off its signature Hank & Laurel Greer Lifesaving Raffle at this year’s Paws in the Park, giving supporters chances to win a new car or cash prizes while saving the lives of thousands of animals across South Carolina. The 10th raffle launches at noon on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the event in Brittlebank Park in downtown Charleston and will be hosted online through the nonprofit fundraising platform RallyUp.

This year’s grand prize is a 2026 Hybrid Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Edition, valued at over $65,000, along with five additional cash prizes: $6,000, $4,000, $2,000, and two $500 cash awards. Only 4,000 tickets are available, with tiered entry options starting at $100 for one entry and multi-ticket packages offering increasing value—up to 20 entries for $1,600, at https://go.rallyup.com/toyota.

“Every ticket helps save lives,” said a Charleston Animal Society spokesperson. “Thanks to the generosity of our longtime benefactors Hank and Laurel Greer, 100% of raffle proceeds go directly to helping the 35,000 animals we care for each year.” Across 10 raffles, the Greers have personally purchased the raffle vehicles and provided the cash prizes, allowing all funds raised, now totaling more than $2.3 million from over 24,000 entries, to support Charleston Animal Society’s lifesaving programs.

The inaugural car raffle in 2018, featuring a donated Mini Cooper, sold out 500 tickets at $100 each and raised $51,000, with the winner driving from Ohio to pick up the car in Charleston. In 2021, the organization selected RallyUp, which is widely regarded as the best online fundraising software for raffles, raising over $270,000 with a Tesla Model Y grand prize. Subsequent raffles have featured vehicles including multiple Lexus hybrids, Subaru models, and a Hyundai Hybrid Santa Fe—each raising critical funds and expanding the impact for animals in need.

The raffle launch will be a marquee moment at Paws in the Park presented by Fetch Pet Insurance, the largest animal event in South Carolina and Charleston Animal Society’s biggest community fundraiser of the year. Held from 12:00 – 4:00 PM at Brittlebank Park (185 Lockwood Dr, Charleston, SC), Paws in the Park features dog adoptions, live music, Barks N’ Brews with 10 local craft beer breweries, a community-favorite Chili Cook-Off, an Oyster Roast, family fun, and opportunities to support Charleston Animal Society’s mission: the prevention of cruelty to animals.

Raffle entries are open to donors nationwide, and previous raffles have drawn participants from 48 states, with winners from both the Charleston area and as far away as Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, and California—demonstrating the broad support for Charleston Animal Society’s lifesaving work along with fundraising partner RallyUp’s national reach.

Call to Action
Raffle tickets will be available for purchase starting March 21 at https://go.rallyup.com/toyota, and Paws in the Park tickets can be purchased at https://www.citypapertickets.com/events/177805259/paws-in-the-park.

About Charleston Animal Society
Since 1874, the mission of Charleston Animal Society has always been the prevention of cruelty to animals. Recognized as an international model of lifesaving success, the Animal Society focuses on three impacts: ending the unnecessary euthanasia, overpopulation, and cruelty of animals. Last year, the Animal Society cared for over 35,000 animals, spayed or neutered over 15,000 animals, adopted over 5,000 animals, and taught compassion to over 11,000 children. As South Carolina’s largest lifesaving organization, animal organizations from across the state and beyond seek guidance and support from the Animal Society, whose guiding principle is that it has a disproportionate responsibility to others; if there is an animal in need anywhere that the Animal Society can impact, it will. With 13 consecutive years of exemplary independent financial audits, the Animal Society remains the top-rated nonprofit organization in South Carolina. For more information, visit CharlestonAnimalSociety.org.

About RallyUp
RallyUp is a global fundraising platform that makes professional campaigns designed to delight donors and drive results. With an average 38% increase in funds raised and a 97% donor satisfaction rating, RallyUp has become the platform of choice for global charities, national nonprofits, schools, churches, and other organizations. Learn more at rallyup.com.

Filed Under: Benefit, Charity, Pets

Pachamama Sanctuary Expands to Florida with New Orlando Sacred Ayahuasca Retreat with Arkawa March 27-29

02/23/2026 by Susan von Seggern

Orlando, FL – February 23, 2026 – Pachamama Sanctuary, a noted Maine based spiritual retreat community dedicated to safe, authentic ayahuasca ceremonies and deep personal transformation, is announcing the opening of a new Orlando sanctuary and its debut retreat offering, the Orlando Sacred Ayahuasca Retreat with Arkawa, bringing its highly regarded healing work to Central Florida.

Since 2019, Pachamama Sanctuary has hosted immersive ayahuasca retreats guided by experienced indigenous-trained facilitators, creating a safe, supportive environment for those seeking spiritual healing, emotional release, and a renewed sense of purpose. Rooted in deep respect for the traditions of South American plant medicine, the Sanctuary focuses on helping participants reconnect with their true selves in a carefully held ceremonial setting.

The organization’s retreats are designed around small-group, sacramental ceremonies led by facilitators with at least a decade of experience working with ayahuasca in the jungles of South America, ensuring authenticity, safety, and integrity for every participant. A strong emphasis on preparation, ceremony support, and integration provides a container for profound emotional and spiritual insights, often including deep emotional release, vivid visionary experience, and a greater sense of connection to life.

The new Orlando retreat with Arkawa, one of Pachamama Sanctuary’s trusted medicine carriers, extends this mission beyond its Maine base, giving Southeast-based seekers easier access to a high-integrity ayahuasca experience without long-distance travel. The program will mirror the Sanctuary’s hallmark structure: multiple night-time ceremonies, supportive daytime practices, nourishing meals, and community integration, all held in a safe, confidential, and compassion-centered environment.

Orlando Sacred Ayahuasca Retreat With Arkawa – Event Details
While the event is sold out, registered participants will join Pachamama Sanctuary and facilitator JC Arkawa for a 3-day, 2-night sacred ayahuasca retreat in the greater Orlando, Florida area, designed for those seeking deep healing, spiritual awakening, and clarity on life’s path. The retreat includes:

  • Multiple evening ayahuasca ceremonies guided by Arkawa
  • A small, intimate group setting for individualized attention and safety
  • Guided support throughout the experience, from opening circle to closing integration
  • Daytime activities that may include breathwork, sharing circles, and reflective time
  • Healthy, nourishing meals and comfortable shared accommodations

The Orlando retreat is structured to give participants enough time to arrive, settle, journey deeply with the medicine, and begin integrating insights before returning home. All participants are guided through a thorough screening and intake process to help ensure medical and psychological suitability for the work.

What to Expect from a Pachamama Sanctuary Ayahuasca Retreat
At Pachamama Sanctuary, ayahuasca is approached as a sacred plant sacrament, honored for its centuries-long use by indigenous cultures of South America for spiritual healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. The brew combines the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves, creating a powerful medicine that can open the door to deep emotional healing and spiritual insight.

Under the guidance of experienced facilitators, participants may experience:

  • Emotional release and healing of past traumas
  • Heightened self-awareness and clarity of purpose
  • A profound sense of connection to nature, spirit, and others
  • Renewed motivation to make positive changes in their lives

While experiences vary for each individual, all ceremonies are held within a framework that prioritizes physical, emotional, and spiritual safety, with trained staff present throughout.

About JC Arkawa
Juan Carlos Arkawa has worked with Ayahuasca for 22 years. He trained in Colombia and serves the sacrament with the highest respect and honor. JC is a multi-instrumentalist musician, producer, composer and arranger of indigenous Colombian descent from the town of Los Pastos. With more than 30 years of musical experience, he bases his work on the fusion of instruments and ethnic music from different parts of the world, as well as cultural knowledge from diverse ancestral communities and contemporary technology. He is a self-taught performer on more than 100 wind instruments from around the world. In 2014 he was recognized by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia for the contribution of his artistic career. JC has given concerts in major Colombian cities as well as internationally in Rome, Prague, United States, Greece, Spain, Germany, Austria and more. He has appeared on television and radio internationally including Telemundo, Univision, and CCTV.

About Pachamama Sanctuary
Pachamama Sanctuary is a spiritual retreat community dedicated to providing safe, authentic ayahuasca ceremonies for individuals seeking transformation, healing, and spiritual connection. Located primarily in the serene forests of Maine and now expanding offerings to Orlando, Florida, Pachamama Sanctuary works with indigenous-trained shamans and medicine carriers with at least 10 years of experience in the South American tradition of ayahuasca. The Sanctuary’s mission is to offer a supportive, well-respected environment where participants can reconnect with their true essence, release emotional burdens, and foster deep spiritual growth and emotional clarity.

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