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Persimmon Tree would not exist without the donations of our community of readers, writers, and artists. We thank you — and we hope you will continue to give generously.
To give using Zelle, address your donation to publisher@persimmontree.org and note in the memo line that it is a donation. To contribute with a credit card, click here. Or, if you would prefer to donate by check, you can do so by making your check out to Persimmon Tree and mailing it to –
Jean Zorn, Publisher
20 W. 64th St., Apt. 30N
New York, NY 10023
To give using Zelle, address your donation to publisher@persimmontree.org and note in the memo line that it is a donation. To contribute with a credit card, click here. Or, if you would prefer to donate by check, you can do so by making your check out to Persimmon Tree and mailing it to –
Jean Zorn, Publisher
20 W. 64th St., Apt. 30N
New York, NY 10023
Persimmon Tree is a tax exempt charitable organization, pursuant to IRC Section 501(c)(3). Persimmon Tree is also a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. All contributions to Persimmon Tree, whether made by check or Zelle directly to Persimmon Tree or by credit card via Fractured Atlas, are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Our Generous Donors

Our spring fundraising campaign was a huge success. With many thanks to everyone who donated, we are listing here the members of Persimmon Tree’s new Diamond Circle (gifts in 2025 totaling $1,000 or more), Emerald Circle (gifts in 2025 totaling $500 to $999), and Ruby Circle (gifts in 2025 totaling $200 to $499). We are also listing our Patrons (gifts in 2025 totaling $100 to $199) and our Sustaining Members (those who have opted to make automatic monthly donations).
You too can become a Circle member, just by donating now or at any time during the year. Multiple donations in the same year also count, if they add up to a Circle amount, so consider setting up monthly automatic gifts. That way you can make your giving more manageable by spacing it out, and Persimmon Tree gets the benefit of knowing there’s a secure monthly income we can count on. Click here to become a sustaining monthly member.
You too can become a Circle member, just by donating now or at any time during the year. Multiple donations in the same year also count, if they add up to a Circle amount, so consider setting up monthly automatic gifts. That way you can make your giving more manageable by spacing it out, and Persimmon Tree gets the benefit of knowing there’s a secure monthly income we can count on. Click here to become a sustaining monthly member.
The Diamond Circle
Anonymous
Buffington, Sally
Connor, Lynn
Perish, Melanie
Salt, Susan
Tamakoshi, Laura Zimmer
Buffington, Sally
Connor, Lynn
Perish, Melanie
Salt, Susan
Tamakoshi, Laura Zimmer
The Emerald Circle
Cleveland, Mary (Polly)
Collinson, Judy
Wagner, Margaret
Zorn, Jean
Collinson, Judy
Wagner, Margaret
Zorn, Jean
The Ruby Circle
Attanucci, Jane
Beck, Christine
Bedingfield, Sherri
Bergman, Joan Behrens
Cooper, Lucy
Gefen, Nan
Hand, Alice Ann
Harde, Grace W.
Hogue, Cynthia
Kennedy, Martha H.
Levin, Ann
Maisel, Peggy
Manaster, Jane
Osborne, Linda
Perl, Sondra
Ross, Judith
Seskin, Jane
Shaner, Lynne
Sklar, Kathryn
Spring, Julia
Stanford, Ann F.
Stein, Carrie
Thomas, Mary
Tinsley, Molly
Tisch, Robbie
Beck, Christine
Bedingfield, Sherri
Bergman, Joan Behrens
Cooper, Lucy
Gefen, Nan
Hand, Alice Ann
Harde, Grace W.
Hogue, Cynthia
Kennedy, Martha H.
Levin, Ann
Maisel, Peggy
Manaster, Jane
Osborne, Linda
Perl, Sondra
Ross, Judith
Seskin, Jane
Shaner, Lynne
Sklar, Kathryn
Spring, Julia
Stanford, Ann F.
Stein, Carrie
Thomas, Mary
Tinsley, Molly
Tisch, Robbie
Patrons
Anonymous
Behrens, Patricia McGovern
Brown, Andrea Carter
Brown, Jane
Burke, Zoe
Chong, Dorian
Clark, Marian
deBeer, Liz
Dixon, Mary Alice
Elshazly, Janet
Foster, Don
Frances, Sally
Franceschi, Betti
Glassman, Susan
Halpern, Susan
Jagoda, Joanne
Kammen, Carol
Keyes, Claire
Magy, Ronna
McAulay, Sara
Newburger, Amy
Nicholson, Ruth
Pearson, Margaret
Phillips, Vicki
Pratt, Julie
Reichman, Ellen
Reker, Mary Lou
Saunders, Jane
Schmidt, Jan
Schulman, Jane
Sikerbol, Kate
Smith, Deborah Takiff
Soniat, Katherine
Sosin, Kim
Stewart, Jody
Tucker, Norma
White, Katherine
Wilner, Eleanor
Wilson, Janice
Behrens, Patricia McGovern
Brown, Andrea Carter
Brown, Jane
Burke, Zoe
Chong, Dorian
Clark, Marian
deBeer, Liz
Dixon, Mary Alice
Elshazly, Janet
Foster, Don
Frances, Sally
Franceschi, Betti
Glassman, Susan
Halpern, Susan
Jagoda, Joanne
Kammen, Carol
Keyes, Claire
Magy, Ronna
McAulay, Sara
Newburger, Amy
Nicholson, Ruth
Pearson, Margaret
Phillips, Vicki
Pratt, Julie
Reichman, Ellen
Reker, Mary Lou
Saunders, Jane
Schmidt, Jan
Schulman, Jane
Sikerbol, Kate
Smith, Deborah Takiff
Soniat, Katherine
Sosin, Kim
Stewart, Jody
Tucker, Norma
White, Katherine
Wilner, Eleanor
Wilson, Janice
Sustaining Members
Barnstone, Aliki**
Brennan, Karen*
Burke, Mary*
Campbell Romano, Alice*
Dolan, Louise
Fulton, Alice*
Holladay, Royce*
Joosten, Yolanda
Kaufman, Debra
Kennedy, Sharon
Kranz, Marianne*
Kress-Dunn, Pamela*
Leonard, Sue**
McAulay, Sara*
Millard, Victoria*
Saxton, Ruth
Spring, Julia*
Wagner, Margaret***
Zorn, Jean***
*Patron
**Ruby Circle
*** Emerald Circle
Brennan, Karen*
Burke, Mary*
Campbell Romano, Alice*
Dolan, Louise
Fulton, Alice*
Holladay, Royce*
Joosten, Yolanda
Kaufman, Debra
Kennedy, Sharon
Kranz, Marianne*
Kress-Dunn, Pamela*
Leonard, Sue**
McAulay, Sara*
Millard, Victoria*
Saxton, Ruth
Spring, Julia*
Wagner, Margaret***
Zorn, Jean***
*Patron
**Ruby Circle
*** Emerald Circle
I Finally Have the Smoking Hot Body I Have Always Wanted
(having been cremated)
by Barb Drummond
Writer, Barb Drummond, grew up in a home filled with crazy antics, love, laughter, and an exceptionally unique and zany mother. Who else had a mom who baked cream pies just so she’d have one on hand to throw at people she loved?
Barb’s mother Sybil, however, drew the short straw by getting Alzheimer’s in her 60s. The disease stole her vibrant personality and voice. When Sybil died, an ordinary obituary just wouldn’t do. She was a glamorous Renaissance woman filled with creativity; a former ER nurse who saved lives; she was what movies are made of. Her sense of humour and charm made friends far and wide.
Barb wrote the quirky obituary with her mom’s voice. No one could’ve predicted the obit would go viral within 24 hours—worldwide! Hundreds of thousands of people internationally read about Sybil Marie Hicks and her smoking hot body—and they wanted more! Barb’s memoir takes you into her mother’s life and the media whirlwind when her mom became an instant worldwide celebrity after she died.
Within hours of its release, I Finally Have the Smoking Hot Body hit #1 best-seller status on Amazon. It continues to reach readers around the world and has been featured on CBC Radio and other media.
Barb's book is more than just a story, it’s a book that keeps on giving. A percentage of sales is donated to the Alzheimer’s Society, helping to support families impacted by this devastating disease.
In this hilarious, quirky, and poignant memoir, you’ll fall in love with Sybil and wish you’d known her in real life. (Even if she’d smoosh a cream pie in your face!)
Meet Barb and her mom on Barb’s website.
Available from Amazon.