Dear Friends, Thank you for visiting our fundraising campaign.

THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION AND PLEA FOR LOVE - to Please Help Benny & Marsha be Reunited!


OUR MISSION

This fundraiser was created to help a very special couple be reunited after nearly two years spent apart, not by their choice, but by the US Consulate's unfair discriminatory decisions. The money is needed to cover Benny's visa challenges (legal + government fees), plus travel expenses for Marsha to visit him in Australia during the lengthy process. We’re asking for your support, whatever you're able to contribute. All donations of any amount will be greatly appreciated.

WHO WE ARE
Benny Zable is an artist and cultural ambassador with a lifelong history dedicated to volunteer service for numerous causes, non-profit organizations and events. His performance arts, (dance, art installations & staging) focus awareness on urgent issues, the environment, nuclear disarmament, world peace, humanitarian and indigenous rights. (All signs, banners, costumes, props and flags were designed, hand-lettered and painted by Benny, not digital prints!)

BENNY'S DEDICATED CAUSES
Those who know Benny can attest to his social conscience, commitments, activism and sincere efforts to expose political corruption, corporate greed, war and exploitation. His “yin-yang” method of expression contrasts evil through his dark masked characters (Greed-Dozer & Fossil Fools), juxtaposed against the beauty of rainbow flag symbols of love, peace, joy and light. Benny's unique creative contributions benefit many causes with the highest integrity and ethical standards. See more of his work at: bennyzable.com

Marsha Silvestri is an artist, designer, dancer, yogi, writer and health/fitness enthusiast. Her passions include preserving nature, inspiring world peace and healing through art. Her visual arts feature inspirational imagery and spiritual themes which she aspires to project in her performance arts, sacred dance and creative costumes. Partnering with Benny, Marsha's angelic, pacifist energy creates a lighter uplifting presence and feminine balance to Benny's dark ominous characters/ messages of shock and alarm. You can learn more about her work on her website PureLifePlanet.com and LifeBlog.

OUR LOVE STORY
Introduced by a mutual friend in 2015, when they first met, Marsha discovered she photographed Benny's flags and costume two years earlier. Tagging Benny (the man behind the mask) on Facebook, set into motion a chain of events that would set the course of their relationship. With Marsha's background in martial arts (swords, staffs, fire, fans & veils), dancing with Benny's flags came naturally to her. Near the end of Benny's 2016 NYC visit, their collaborations at Central Park's Annual Vigil 4 Peace & Ecology sparked their flag dancing partnership and the start of their romance. 

MUTUAL CAUSES - A HIGHER PURPOSE
Marsha's life path paralleled Benny's through various multicultural arts, dance, yoga, spiritual and environmental circles. As kindred spirits sharing similar eclectic creative passions, they began volunteering together towards their shared dedicated causes, participating in environmental festivals, parties and events. They performed at Earth Day actions and rallies, The People's Climate March in Washington, DC, helped facilitate and decorate EcoFest Time's Square, GreenFest NYC, the Vigil 4 Peace & Ecology, World Yoga Interfaith presentations, processions and gatherings. As flag bearers they led the 2017 NYC Dance Parade for Peace with Grand Marshalls “Dances for Universal Peace”. They made a great team where all aspects of their lives seemed divinely aligned, harmonious and compatible.

Benny had never married, and Marsha, after a divorce and a few ill-fated relationships, was reluctant to remarry. But somehow these two kindred spirits from opposite ends of the planet managed to find each other. If there was ever a “match made in heaven”, these two souls seemed destined for each other. After spending 6 blissful months of nonstop adventures together, they decided to marry. On 10/1/2017 Benny and Marsha tied the knot in a small interfaith ceremony surrounded by a few close friends and family at Central Park's John Lennon Imagine Memorial. Beyond imagining our happy future together, the mandala is significant to us a couple, and to Benny for having reproduced its replica in Nimbin, AU. This ecstatic event by everyone's expectations should have been the start of a wonderful life together – the “happily-ever-after” most couples dream of.

Benny left the US shortly after the wedding to take care of prior commitments in Australia with the intent to return shortly after. He'd already purchased round-trip tickets, made arrangements, paid the application fees and submitted all required documents. WE WERE SO HAPPY, preparing to begin our new life as husband and wife, with many exciting plans for his return – but they all fell apart because his visa was denied!  

THE CHALLENGING NIGHTMARE
We could never have imagined the decision to marry would become a serious challenge to being together and a major obstacle keeping us apart!

Benny, a New Zealand-born Australian, visited the USA dozens of times since the 1970s. He NEVER overstayed any visas,worked illegally or violated any visa terms. After taking care of prior obligations back home in AU, his plan was to return for our belated honeymoon and to plan our future together. We assumed he'd be eligible to return as he always had, to stay 3–6 months to continue his usual festival volunteer work, to explore our options for where to reside, and help me move, should we decide to relocate.

Since then, Benny has applied 4 times for visas to return to the US, and each time was denied! The reason is never specified, only given a number “214-B”, which could apply to more than 30 possible causes for rejection. The main reason, as unbelievable as it sounds, is because we're MARRIED! The main difference from his prior approved visas, to his more recent denials, is the fact that we are legally married, (along with increased anti-immigrant policies imposed by the Trump administration).

IMMIGRATION ISSUES

We can't go into too many details of Benny's legal case here, except to say being denied multiple times makes his case more complex and costly to resolve. Challenges include: his history of activism, plus restrictions that discriminate against applicants lacking substantial financial assets (owning no property, retired senior citizens, or anyone “suspected of intent” to work illegally or evade taxes, typically artists and performers), persons with previous arrests, and foreigners with an American spouse or family member. Under current US policy the only visa he might be eligible for is a spousal petition for permanent residency, which could cost up to $10K with legal fees, and, if successful, take a year or longer before Benny could be eligible to enter the USA. That option would also cause Benny to lose his Australian pension, his primary source of income.

Benny is not only separated from his wife, he's also being kept from many close friends and cultural exchange alliances established over 5 decades of visits. Some are like family, in fact, Benny has other US relatives, cousins from his mother's side. Because he chose to marry an American citizen, he's no longer allowed to visit his many friends and family who love him, miss him, and have come to depend on his contributions and friendship!

Sadly we were forced to abandon many plans for his return, including a post-wedding party for all the friends unable to attend our very small short-notice wedding, and our honeymoon. Benny regretfully had to back out of commitments for several events and conferences as an invited guest of honor and presenter, unable to participate due to these denials. For decades Benny played a major role helping to facilitate EcoFest, NYC’s longest-running ecology festival with a 30-year history. The director of EcoFest had to cancel the 2019 festival because without Benny's help, she so greatly depended on, she was unable to make it happen. She tried to sponsor him for a visa for guest artists or volunteer assistants, but the USCIS complicated red tape, ultra-high criteria requirements plus thousands of dollars in government fees were more than her non-profit organization could afford, with no guarantee he'd be granted the visa. He'd still risk 214-b denials, and all that money and effort would be wasted.

We miss each other tremendously. This unjust separation has caused extreme financial and emotional stress and hardships for us both (requiring immeasurable time, energy, costs and ongoing repeated efforts to resolve). I've reached out to so many people brainstorming, researching, seeking solutions, including contacting my local NJ Representative, Senators and Governor, explaining our plight with pleas for help, to no avail. Responses said they were unable to interfere with decisions made by the USCIS.

CONTINUED EFFORTS
During this difficult separation, Benny continues his noble fights to protect and save the planet, with tireless efforts to stop the Adani Mega-Coal Mine project, proposed railway and coal ports that threaten the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland's coastal wetlands and Australia's Great Artesian Basin water supply. He's also fighting for indigenous land rights of Aboriginal farmers whose land is being stolen to push through this ill-fated dirty coal project.

In Benny's absence, Marsha continues to support causes she and Benny shared, offering, art, dance, decorations and demonstrations for EcoFest 2018, the Vigil 4 Peace & Ecology, the International Day of Peace, World Yoga Unity Earth Day Summit, Climate Marches and other events.

“I do my best, but certain tasks are too difficult, impractical or impossible to do alone without Benny's physical support (and much less fun without my partner / playmate to share them with). The life I came to enjoy with Benny has become much harder to endure without his physical presence. We wish to pursue many mutual visions, goals, dreams and projects involving ecology, art and peace initiatives. Instead we're kept in limbo, not knowing which course of action will bring us back together to share our love and continued creative collaborations.”

SEEKING SOLUTIONS

Several friends suggested creating a fundraiser for Benny's visa expenses, plus travel costs for Marsha to visit him during the waiting process (typically 12–18 months if successful), or possible relocation to Australia or another welcoming country if their US case cannot be resolved. We've been apart too long and desperately want to be reunited, at least temporarily to have our belated honeymoon.

That's where you come in. If you appreciate the work Benny does, his tireless dedication to help others and protect the planet, and the causes we share to make the world a better place, we hope you can find it in your heart to contribute to this cause, to help him be reunited with the love of his life, to continue our life and work together.

OUR GOAL

We've set an initial goal of $10,000.  
Estimated expenses may vary and likely be higher depending on legal outcomes and other factors.
• Legal Fees for US visa options + case preparation: $5K–$10K USD
• Official government application + processing fees: about $2000 USD
• Airfare + travel expenses for Marsha to visit Benny in Australia: $3000 USD
• Relocation expenses (if necessary): $10K–15K (including $4K for AU spousal legal residency application)

METHODS FOR GIVING

To make it as easy as possible to donate, (and reduce extra transaction, foreign exchange/bank fees) we're offering multiple methods for accepting contributions. Along with this donation platform, we also accept Pay Pal directly (our preferred method to reduce Fundrazr's suggested tipping + platform fees)
USA Donors can make direct contributions to Marsha's PayPal via: mrsarts@gmail.com
For AU Donors Funds can also be sent to Benny Zable Support Fund in AU: C.B.A BSB # 062-555 Account # 10271459
Outside Australia add BIC/SWIFT code: CTBAAU2S
We also accept offline contributions:
Checks from US banks or money orders may be sent to:
Marsha Silvestri - 326 Montgomery St. #3 Jersey City, NJ 07302

Any amount you can give would be greatly appreciated to support our love for each other and this beautiful planet we all share.  Your support would mean so much towards helping us be reunited to continue our creative collaborations – and just be together as we should be!

Liberty State Park Oct 2, 2017, our last outing together after the wedding. 

YOU CAN ALSO HELP US BY SHARING OUR CAMPAIGN among your networks of friends, social media contacts, platforms and influencers. PLEASE SHARE WIDELY - THANK YOU! ❣️

OUR HEARTFELT THANKS to all who have already offered support in any form - Many Blessings

MUCH LOVE AND GRATITUDE ❤️

Benny & Marsha❣️