Three years ago, homeless and unemployed, I created a fundraiser for me and my children.

It was a very embarrassing and humiliating experience, with people making heartless comments to me…strangers passing judgment, etc.

Fortunately there were many many friends and colleagues and strangers alike, who helped out, and I did not feel so alone in the overwhelm.

I am urgently in need of your kindness, please.

My son is turning 16 in a little over a week. As we all remember, this is such a monumental and important birthday! I would like to be able to make this a birthday for him that he will always remember and get him a very special gift.

As part of his birthday celebration, I would also like to take my kids to see their grandparents who are 88 and 90 years old. Part of these funds will go towards being able to visit them.

3 years ago I left a long-term abusive marriage to protect my children and myself, and to begin our long process of healing.

I do not receive alimony I do not receive child support.

Many of you know I have been urgently urgently looking for work over the past couple years.

I do not receive unemployment. Our state and county assistance was eliminated. Our food benefits have been reduced to next to nothing.

My amazing soon to be 16 year-old son is a T1 diabetic, and there are medical costs I have to pay for monthly. He also has special dietary needs that are costly.

Recently and without notice, our rent was raised 10% overnight! This was an increase of many hundreds of dollars per month.

Then suddenly the DWP cut several low income benefit programs, and my water and power bill quadrupled!

Some of you know me from the huge number of nonprofits I’ve raised monies for, and part of my job search has been to be the executive Director, or Director of fundraising for a charity.

The job search has been a humiliating, frustrating, depressing and horrifying experience. I have been the victim of racial discrimination…age discrimination…religious discrimination…gender discrimination.

It truly has been horrifying and shameful.

All of these financial challenges have now come to head at the same time and I’m asking for your help please.

So he turns Quinn a little over a week. My son is turning 16 in a little over a week. He and his sister have been working so hard in school, each recently having made Honor Roll…

and I’d like this to be the time of great joy and reward for all of his hard work and growth… especially after all of horrible challenges that my kids have been through.

It is common to hear about how challenging things can be for a single mother…

No one speaks about the same, and the sometimes even greater challenges of being a single dad.

My being a dad is my greatest joy and it’s a powerful lesson to teach my children that sometimes you have to ask for help and that it’s OK to do so.

I’m asking for your kindness and generosity. I’m very grateful for your help and my kids are as well.

Thank you for helping us.

Steve and the kids