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Here's an excerpt from a letter from filmmaker Richard Kotuk's sister Maggie who is a schoolteacher and very good friend to Travis and his family:
 Maggie Kotuk and Travis Jefferies with President Clinton in 2001 at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem |
Dear Friends,
We had a fabulous weekend with Travis here on the farm in East Hampton, New York. He graduated from the eighth grade at the Frederick Douglass Academy in Harlem last year. This was his first year as a full-time student. Presently, Travis is a freshman at the School for the Humanities in lower Manhattan. He travels by himself on the New York City subway over 113 blocks to school each day. He lives with his Aunt Rita and her family in Harlem.
Travis is very, very happy to come to the farm, where he enjoys spending time with some of the "country" children he has met here over the years. He loves to play backgammon with my 90-year-old father as well as with his contemporary friends. He drives a small tractor around the farm and is always asking if there is something he can do to help. And, of course, on a farm, there is always something to do!!!
His medicine is keeping the AIDS virus in remission. On his next birthday, April 22nd, he will be 15 years old! I asked him, if he could make a wish to have something that he has always wanted, what it would it be: He said a laptop computer to help him with his homework and so he would be able to send emails to his friends and family. (To send donations see below.)
Lastly, Israeli television called to tell me that the film TRAVIS will be the starting film shown in Israel for their AIDS awareness week coming up in December. Needless to say, we are very happy that they selected TRAVIS to show on Israeli TV.
Sincerely,
Maggie Kotuk
November 2002
Travis update February 24, 2000
Travis update October 18, 1999
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