Each September, the Relay FM community of podcasters and listeners join together to raise funds for the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. This is an amazing organization that does important work and means a lot to so many families from all around the world.
Over the last four years, the Relay FM community has raised $2.2 million to support St. Jude, and this year, we hope to pass the $2.5 million barrier, which if I’m being honest, we should blow past.
For my part, I run a raffle at The Pen Addict. Like each previous year, I have collected donated goods from friends in the pen community, and this year is lining up to be an absolute bonanza of awesomeness. Here are the launch week goods, and I will publish updates once a week through the raffle period, especially when new items are added. Take a look, and then scroll to the bottom to see how to donate and participate.
HelloTello Allegria Fountain Pen
The Allegria is a new model from HelloTello, and this one is a special collaboration between several makers specifically for this raffle. The pen itself features two Mille Fiori finials both on the top and the bottom of the pen. It also comes with a handmade clip made by Tim Cullen from Hooligan Georgia which was made from stainless steel and hand engraved as well. Both the clip and #6 Steel Bock nib were electroplated to match by Jim Hinze of Hinze Pens. The nib also has The Pen Addict logo etched into it. The pen material is made by The Pensmiths.
This Shortcap model from Elbwood is made from “orange water” ebonite, and features a gold-plated Broad steel nib.
PLOTTER Mini Shiranami Notebook
“Shiranami” is the first US Exclusive project by PLOTTER. It includes a line-up of PLOTTER 6-Ring Leather Binders, as well as its complementary special Refill Memo Pad made with high-quality blue color paper in “Quadrant Graph”. “Shiranami” translates to “white-crested waves” – the foamy white edges of turbulent waves at sea that create a stunning and dramatic view. True to our Japanese heritage, PLOTTER proudly introduces this quintessential and representative color of Japan to the United States through our Japan Blue Project. Mini (also known as pocket size) is a compact size for creatives who would like to take notes anytime, anywhere. The portable size is designed for you to carry it in your bag, back pocket, or purse.
This raffle gift is a set that includes:
(1) Shiranami 6-Ring Leather Binder (Mini Size) + special postcard
(2) Blue Paper 2mm Grid Quadrant 80 Sheets (1st Edition) (Mini Size)
(3) Leather Ring Supporter (Mini Size)
Kanilea has been a long-time supporter of our charitable work, and they have added two pens into the mix for two separate raffle winners this year:
Like a luminous blanket, moody morning clouds float between Maui’s Haleakala crater and the fading stars in the heavens above.
Classic Flush profile, rose gold medallion, with a steel nib in your choice of finish (polished or rose gold-plated) and point size ( EF, F, M, B, or 1.1mm stub.)
Rivers of fiery, molten lava from Hawai’i Island’s Kilauea volcano scorch a path across the land and flow into the sea, sending up a think, gray haze.
Created with an equal proportion of colors (gray, black, deep orange) in the Classic profile, with an Argentium silver medallion and a steel nib in your choice of finish (polished or rose gold-plated) and point size ( EF, F, M, B, or 1.1mm stub.)
Special Edition #7 - PDX was launched by Enigma Stationery for this year’s Pacific Northwest Pen Show, and have kindly donated one pen with your choice of Jowo #6 steel nib to one raffle winner.
Enigma is also offering one of their 31-Day Ink Sample Stands for one raffle winner. The winner will be able to pick their own stand color, and Enigma will add in a few inks to get you started.
Finally, Enigma has donated one $50 gift card to their online store for one raffle winner.
Amarillo Stationery Pennonia Ink Collection
Amarillo Stationery has donated one of each of their Pennonia Ink collaborations, to be raffled off as a set. One winner will take home all three bottles: Rosa Mexicano, Azul Frida, and the soon to be released Amarillo Antiguo.
This beautiful pen storage box from NFP Design features hand-crafted traditional Turkish artwork on the exterior, and holds two pens on the inside.
Spoke Design Build You Own Icon, plus Penquisition PenDragon 3-D Printed Holder
The Icon from Spoke Design is a modular fountain pen where you can choose different colors and finishes to build your own pen. One winner will be able to select all of their parts from inventory, including their preferred steel nib size.
The Montegrappa Venetia Fountain Pen - Rio Di San Marcuola is a Flax Pen to Paper exclusive, and they have sent two (!) or these pens for the raffle. One raffle winner will receive the Venetia with a Fine Steel nib, and another will receive the Venetia with a Medium Steel nib.
In addition, Flax Pen to Paper has sent three sets of their exclusive Troublemaker Inks, with each set featuring one bottle of Into the Depths, Sage Green, and Momo Mochi. I will be selecting three different raffle winners, each of whom will receive one set of three inks.
Retro 1951 has pulled some pens directly from the archives to help us raise money for St. Jude.
First up is the A.A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh - Tornado Collector's Set, marked with Serial #1. That’s right, the first of this set will go to one lucky raffle winner.
Retro 51 has also provided the #1’s of other Winnie the Pooh products: the 100 Aker Wood Fountain Pen, Decorations Fountain Pen, and Decorations Rollerball. Each of these pens will be raffled off to individual winners.
The Rockwall is one of the core designs from Tactile Knife Co., and was donated to this raffle by EDC guru Anthony from Everyday Commentary.
The Nona 14 is a beautiful, faceted, 9-sided fountain pen barrel, made by London Pen Co. This model is turned from Primary Manipulation 1 from Carolina Pen Co., and features an Extra Fine Steel Jowo nib.
Abidel released a new print for the Orlando Pen Show, “Seahorse III,” and provided me with print number 6 of 15 to raffle off to one winner.
San Francisco Pen Show ink sample set
I built 49 ink samples for an ink testing tray at the 2023 San Francisco Pen Show, and made a duplicate set to raffle off for St. Jude. One winner will be shipped all 49 ink samples in the tray as shown
This next batch of pens I am calling the “Mysterious Benefactors” section. These pens were all donated for use in this raffle, and wow, is there some cool stuff below. Like all of the pens above, these pens will be individually raffled off at the close of the event.
Pilot Custom 823 Smoke, Fine Nib
Bungubox Fujiyama Blue Pilot 823, Fine Nib
Stationery Delta’s Pilot Custom 845 Jade, Broad Nib, plus Yurie Pen Sleeve
TAG Stationery Sakura-nezumi Sailor Pro Gear, Fine Nib
Hachimonjiya Krage Aquarium Sailor Pro Gear, Fine Nib
Pilot Custom Heritage SE, Marble Orange barrel, Fine nib
So, how can you help out the kids at St. Jude, and have a chance at winning some great prizes? Here you go:
- For every $10 you donate via the Relay FM for St. Jude 2023 page, you will receive one entry into the raffle. You are not limited to how much you donate, or how many entries you have. For example, $20 donated = 2 entries. $100 donated = 10 entries. We are trying to raise as much money as possible for the kids, so go wild! Donations made through Relay FM affiliated Community Campaigns are also eligible.
- After you donate, forward a copy of your donation receipt, or a screenshot including the amount and date of donation to stjude@penaddict.com with 2023 Raffle in the Subject line. Only donations timestamped on or after September 4th at 9 a.m. Eastern, and before 11:59 p.m. on September 26th, are eligible.
- All entries will be added to a spreadsheet after September 26th, and Random.org will be used to select the winners.
- All winners will be contacted directly via email, if selected.
Helping to raise funds for St. Jude is one of the highlights of my year. Their work is important and impactful, and I appreciate your support of this great cause.
