ABOUT AWETOBER:  

Since 2020, AWEtober has raised $31,811.74 for wildfire victims and coral restoration efforts around the globe 

The Park Fire burns on July 27, 2024 (Image credit: CSU/CIRA & NOAA) Source: www.space.com

Maui Wildfires Timeline. Source: CNN.com

A school of blue-green chromid fish swim above corals on Moore Reef in Gunggandji Sea Country Queensland, Australia, 2022.  Source: www.opb.org

AWEtober started as a reaction to the gray/orange that blanketed California in the pandemic summer of 2020 during the historic CZU Lightning Complex Fires. My sister-in-law and husband’s home had just burned down in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was the first time I’d ever prepare for evacuating our home. We were only a block away from that yellow evacuation line. This year, thankfully, my sister-in-law and husband are back in their newly rebuilt home at last.

It’s now September, 2024, and though the Bay Area has been spared (so far) from wildfires, we’re thinking of the communities who are battling active fires in the Butte, Tehama, Kern, Tulare, Humboldt, Riverside, and Alameda counties, as well as the Oregon border and those still affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. This season, the PARK fire (caused by arson!) up north in the Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama Counties) became the fourth largest wildfire in California and has burned over 430,000 acres. An alarming rise in ocean temperatures this past decade continues to affect the reef worldwide. A particularly alarming study shares that the Great Barrier Reef waters were the hottest in 400 years over the past decade. Between 2016 and 2024, the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem and one of the most biodiverse, suffered mass coral bleaching events.

As October (AWEtober month) approaches, I wanted to first thank the entire kidlit community for your support and participation through the years! I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished and for shining a light on those supporting and helping those in need. It’s been a true light during a dark time for many. 


AWEtober 2023 raised over $7,800 for victims of the Maui wildfires and coral restoration efforts.

AWEtober 2022 raised over $7,700 for the victims of the CA wildfires and Coral Reef restoration efforts around the globe.

AWEtober 2021 raised over $7,200 for the victims of the CA wildfires and
Coral Reef restoration efforts around the globe.

AWEtober 2020 raised over $9,000 for victims of the California wildfires. 

Disclaimer: Shirley Ng-Benitez has no affiliation with any of the donor organizations on this site, nor collects any $ from any of the AWEtober 2020-2024 efforts. Shirley Ng-Benitez is not responsible for lost items or refunds from any of the participating artists’ auctions. Fulfillment of auctions/fundraisers are the responsibility of each participating artist. Auctions/fundraisers are not affiliated with Instagram. Shirley retains all rights to all content on this website.  Participating artists retain all rights to their artwork/content. Shirley Ng-Benitez reserves the right to cap and remove participants for any cause.Please do not copy or distribute any of the artists’ work. We’re all trying to do a little good for those in need..thank you!


AWEtober 2024 Grand total
to come!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE 2024 PARTICIPANTS, BIDDERS & WINNERS!

For future Octobers, if you’d like to be included in AWEtober’s efforts to raise funds and awareness for wildfire victims and coral restoration efforts, please email: Shirley@ShirleyNgBenitez.com
to be included on the year’s participation list. Your website and Instagram link will be included.

Each summer I think about why I started AWEtober, and I keep coming back to this…every bit counts.
Every person counts, and if there’s a way to help others in need from wildfires and for efforts to help the coral reef restoration around the globe,
then I will continue to try to shine a light on it. Each October, I too will host an auction on my IG account (@shirleysillos).

I believe that one person can make a difference and that we are all connected.
Together with Art, WE can make a difference! 
Thank you all! ~ Shirley

2024 donor organizations:

——-Donate Directly Anytime (CLICK ON ANY BUTTON BELOW)——
and if you’d like your donation amount to be included in AWEtober 2024’s grand total tally in November ‘24, please send an email of the $ amount to shirley@shirleyngbenitez.com. Thank you!