Dear Friends of JW,

I’m reaching out today on behalf of someone very dear to many of us—our friend Jen.

Several years ago, Jen found the strength to leave a mentally and emotionally abusive marriage. Jen knows it takes two to make a marriage work; admits she played a part in the demise of her marriage but soon learned the abuse would not end with the separation. Over the past 8 years, Jen has continued to endure ongoing harassment and psychological torment while trying to co-parent their three children.

The toll this has taken on her and her children is unimaginable. Her eldest—now an adult—had a restraining order against their father, a painful but telling indication of the damage this man has inflicted on the family. Due to her fear, she currently has a restraining order against her ex. Jen has received countless disturbing and threatening messages, including statements no one should ever have to read—let alone endure from the father of their children.

Despite everything, Jen has shown resilience and grace. She worked full-time while putting herself through college, and eventually built a successful career, earning a six-figure income. She later chose to step back from that role to be more present for her children, a decision made out of love and devotion. But following the divorce, with limited resources and shared custody, Jen has been doing her best to make ends meet—often working for minimum wage plus commissions and/or picking up a second job—all while navigating the complex and emotionally draining CA legal system largely on her own.

She currently lives in a small two-bedroom apartment hoping to live with her adult son again soon, has shared custody of the middle child, and limited access to the youngest who shockingly decided to live with her father full-time, after years of hearing horrible stories of her mom and severe manipulation and coercion by this man. She is often forced to take unpaid time off work to attend court hearings and seek free legal guidance to represent herself. The emotional and financial strain is profound, and there are times when both Jen and her son fear for their safety due to the words that have been spoken to them.

Her employer has been incredibly supportive, but as you can imagine, the stress of trying to remain stable, care for her children, and survive emotionally and financially is overwhelming.

This is where we come in.

If you are able, I’m humbly asking you to consider contributing in any way you can—whether to help her cover legal fees, basic living expenses, or simply to give her some peace of mind. Every dollar helps. Your support could allow her to hire legal representation, fight for the safety and custody of her children, and rebuild the stability she and her kids so desperately need.

Thank you for taking the time to read Jen’s story and for showing her the love and compassion she has always shown to others. If you’re able to donate, share, or offer resources, please know it will make a genuine difference in her life.

With deep gratitude,

Claudia Seeley Pettis

#gocougs