Help Our Family Bridge a Financial Crisis and Rebuild

This is from Ben Levine and Gina Steele, and our children Lucas and Olivia. We have created this GoFundMe page because we need help from our community during a very challenging time.

Over the past few years, we have faced an overwhelming series of hardships — including fraud, pandemic-related struggles, massive layoffs in Silicon Valley, and serious health issues. Through it all, we’ve learned a lot, stayed hopeful, and are seeing signs that things are starting to turn around.

Unfortunately though, right now we are in a severe cash crunch. We have some critical expenses due this week that we simply cannot cover without help:

• Health insurance: $2,800 (due immediately)

• Rent: $5,000 (due immediately)

• Business expenses: essential costs to keep Gina’s small business going

• Basic living expenses: food and essential health treatments for Ben and Lucas

A friend suggested starting this GoFundMe because many small contributions could make a big difference. It was a hard decision to be this vulnerable and ask for help, but we truly need it right now.

How We Got Here

Fraud and Legal Battles

In 2017, we bought what we thought was our dream home — only to discover that there were lies in the real estate disclosures regarding the foundation, which had serious issues hidden by a cover-up that even our inspector couldn’t catch.

We had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars making the home safe. And made the difficult decision to sell it at a loss. We filed a lawsuit, but due to delays from COVID and mounting legal fees (nearly $200,000), we were forced to settle for a small fraction of what we lost.

Silicon Valley Layoffs

After 11 years at his company, Ben lost his job in a company wide layoff in December 2019 - with virtually no severance. It then took him several months to find a new job with the uncertainties of the pandemic. He landed at Marvell, but was heavily recruited by Google and took a job there in April 2022 - but not for long. He was laid off again during Google's mass layoffs in January 2023 and has been searching for work since.

Health Challenges

With the lack of childcare during the pandemic, Gina had to put her business on hold to care for our children. Lucas is neurodiverse and has developed anxiety because of it. He has needed a lot of one-on-one attention. Gina was also pregnant with Olivia during the pandemic or caring for her.

Ben has also been battling serious health issues that have impacted his ability to work.

Thankfully, after trying many different health care providers, we are on the right path, finally finding the right help for both Ben and Lucas need.

Hope for the Future

Despite everything, we are optimistic.

Gina has relaunched her business and has successfully begun selling an online leadership course she created.

Ben started a consulting business last summer and has just finished a successful project. A second project worth $45,000 was scheduled to begin — but unfortunately, the client ran into a funding snag and postponed it at the last minute.

While that setback left us scrambling and in this very difficult monetary position - it showed us that Ben’s business has real potential.

And, now that he is feeling healthier, he’s networking, and creating new opportunities.

We can see that we are so close to turning the corner — we just need a bridge to get through this immediate cash crunch.

What We've Learned

While this last year has been very difficult, we know we have a lot to be grateful for. We have also learned so much, including:

• When we are able to manage our stress and come together, Lucas does much better allowing us to get more done.

• It's ok to ask for help.

• We are not alone — people are incredibly generous and kind.

• Even when things seem scary and helpless, there are things we can control that will make a difference.

• When we have faith and believe in abundance, we get through even when our resources feel very limited.

• Our work can be a source of purpose and fulfillment and help us be better parents. Pouring from an empty cup just doesn't work.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for reading our story and considering helping us.

Any amount you feel comfortable giving would truly help and is deeply appreciated. When we are back on our feet, we can repay you or pay it forward to a charity of your choice.

With gratitude,

Gina, Ben, Lucas, and Olivia