How to Fund This Presentation 
To help pay for this event, students can purchase autographed prints, by professional comic artist Jerry deCaire, with all proceeds (minus the cost of print production) applied against the flat fee. If proceeds exceed the flat fee rate, Jerry deCaire will voluntarily devote the remainder of the poceeds towards the purchase of art supplies for your school. Please refer to images of the prints below for ordering.

Another, but less predictable option, would be to apply for Grant monies. Upon your request, Jerry deCaire will provide for you a developed grant application for your modification.
See GRANT MONEY 

If your school is located in the following states and counties,
a half day of presentations costs only $250
a full day costs $400.

California / March and April Only
Los Angeles county, Ventura county, Orange county

Texas / December Only
Johnson County, Dallas county, Ellis county, Tarrant county, Denton county, Parker county,Wise county, Collin county, Rockwall county, Kaufman county, Hunt county and Delta county.

Michigan / September, October, November, and May Only
Wayne county, Washtenaw county, Macomb county, Oakland county

If your presenter, Jerry deCaire, needs to fly into your area, he asks for a flat fee of $900 per full day of classroom and auditorium presentations. It is important that your school schedule this event at least two weeks in advance to insure reasonable flight costs to the artist.
All costs, including round-trip airflight, local transportation and lodging will be paid for by the artist.

10% of the artist's profits will be donated to the
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/index.shtml

Even if you don't have me at your school, please make a donation to this worthy cause in memory of the most wonderful and beautiful soul I have ever known,

Brandi Nichelle Hoffman. 

Brandi was demure, timid, kind, considerate and thoughtful and someone with a deep compassion for others who taught me how to love and value another person more than myself. She also taught me that talent is meaningless without character and without love. Brandi was a philosopher 'extroaodinaire' and pondered the beauty and wonder of nature, God, and the universe. She was an "old soul" with wisdom beyond her years. She smiled on the outside but often felt sad and lonely even when she wasn't alone. This incredible soul believed the world would be better without her despite the joy and love she has given the people whose lives she's touched in such positive ways. She has been a light that others wanted to gather around; at least, that's how it was for anyone who grew to know her. The more you understood about Brandi the more you wanted to dwell in her presence. She was vulnerable and meek and never hurt anyone. But in her solace and, after having convinced herself that she had nothing more to give, Brandi decided to hurt herself.

It was a  dark, cold, and snowy evening when Brandi took her own life at the young age of 24-just hours removed from her birthday. December 12th 2009 is a day I will never forget as it is the day that she left behind a note with the message that she had no more "HopeDreams". Can you imagine? No more "Hopedreams" at 24!?! Those are the lies that brew in the minds of those who are plagued by this crippling "challenge of the mind". Despite my telling her of her immense worth, she couldn't find it within herself to believe that truth. This is the lie of bipolar disorder. Whether you believe it to be an abberation of science or a revelation of spirit, either way it destroys lives: Good lives! Beautiful lives! I used to tell Brandi, "Even if it's 'real', it's also a 'real' problem when it leads to suicidal thoughts".

 
I will forever weep for you Brandi but try to smile and remember the happy times as those were so many. Your character is such that a shrine to your glowing spirit should have been erected in your honor. Even if you could not draw, you were a real "Artist". You were and are my better. This "challenge" of your's convinced you that you didn't have anything to offer when in truth, you have given me all that I have ever wanted or needed. With you, I felt loved. I was no longer alone.

God give your soul peace of mind and happiness forevermore Brandi Hoffman. This is my "HopeDream"-
Love forever and always, Jerry deCaire

Please pray for Brandi and her surviving and loving parents, Lori and Milton Hoffman.

So please, to anyone who is reading this post, make an effort to stop this "challenge" so that other young women will not throw away the life they have here on this Earth. There's a reason we're here no matter what your faith. And once more, you can help plenty without ever inviting me to your school. Just contact the National Institute of Mental Health at the link provided above.
Thank you-Thank you-Thank you!!!

A special note: 100% from sales of the print "Junior Bear" will go to bipolar research. Junior Bear has a special significance between Brandi and me and the drawing is based on a stuffed animal I gave to Brandi. He was our adopted child-the child we never had. We really had some laughs over that one. Junior Bear has a real appetite for Junior Whoppers. One day, Brandi bought a plastic toy hamburger and wrapped it up with the wrapper Burger King places on their Junior Whopper and placed it in his hand (Paw?). When I came knocking, I was greeted by Junior Bear holding and savoring his Junior Whopper. Now THAT was a hoot! I can hear you laughing even now Brandi.