This is hard. My wife and I do not ask for help, especially outside of immediate family. However, we have found ourselves in one of the hardest situations of our lives.

You may know me (Brennan), my wife (Jacquelyn), or both of us through our careers in education and the arts. Perhaps you have crossed paths with one or both of us through one of the many theatrical or musical endeavors we have been a part of, whether it be as directors, vocal directors, music directors, vocal coaches, or perhaps we have crossed paths in the classroom, as a colleague, former student, former teacher, or mentor/mentee. Perhaps we’ve shared the stage or worked in an orchestra pit together. Perhaps we have prayed together in song. Perhaps we’ve crossed paths another way entirely. Perhaps you are here because a caring friend thought you may be willing to help. In any case, thank you for reading onward.

If you do know us, chances are you have no idea what is coming next, because these are not struggles we typically share, which is why this is so difficult.

In our 18 years married and 9 years as homeowners, we have had our share of struggles. A career in education and/or the arts, with two teenage children, unfortunately deems it so. We’ve worked multiple jobs between us over the years, but we have always found a way to make it work without ever worrying about a roof over our heads or our next meal.

However, in the last year and a half, things have taken a sharp turn for the worse. Jacquelyn was laid off from her job in Development in January of 2025, and despite multiple short-term projects, she has still been unable to find long-term employment despite actively applying and interviewing.

We sustained ourselves as best as we could since the loss, either solely through my own income as a teacher, or through various extra work that one or both of us has taken on, but we now find ourselves staring down the hardest challenge we have ever faced: we have just been informed that we are days away from facing foreclosure.

This is not just the place we live, but a home that has been in Jacquelyn’s family since the 1980s. We assumed total control over the home and the finances in 2017, not because we were well-off, but because Jacquelyn’s father was unable to do so himself.

In our home of 7, we care for:

- Our two children (14 [8th grade], and 16 [10th grade])

- Jacquelyn’s Father (88 years old)

- Jacquelyn’s Uncle (86 years old)

- Jacquelyn’s Aunt (75)

Aside from myself, Jacquelyn, and our children, all others are on a very limited or fixed income, contributing only what they can.

We would not be asking for your help if we saw any other way out of this, but as it currently stands, we’ve exhausted every other option.

Our lives have been deeply touched by many of you, and we know we have touched some of yours as well. Please, if you have the means, consider helping.

Also, if you have any leads for potential long-term employment for Jacquelyn, please reach out.

Thank you,

Brennan and Jacquelyn Whitaker