His Chinchilla Was Rescued, His Belongings Were Not: Man Sings Heartfelt 'Thank You'

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

Even a motivational speaker can get discouraged in certain situations. And yet, Livermore resident Randy Fortes is still positive and persevering following a devastating fire last month that destroyed most of his personal belongings.

The fire occurred in the 5600 block of Oakmont Circle in Livermore during the early morning hours on Feb. 27. Fortes was able to escape uninjured through a window and firefighters rescued his beloved pet chinchilla from the blaze. According to fire officials, the damage to the residence is estimated at $130,000. Full story here.

Since the fire, the Tri-Valley community has rallied to raise funds for to help Fortes, who is a well-known motivational speaker in the East Bay. The GoFundMe page, created by friend Jenna Bliss, has garnered $3178 since it was launched ten days ago.

“Randy is a dear friend,” Bliss said. “He is also a Challenge Day Leader. Challenge Day is a nonprofit that works to bring anti-bullying programs to schools and teaches about kindness.”

The upbeat and tenacious Fortes recently posted a video of himself singing a “Thank You Song” to show his appreciation for the donations and support since he lost his home.

Photo courtesy GoFundMe page. Video embed via Facebook.

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