Thank you for stopping by our gofundme. We are Shannon, Kevin, Magnolia, Gaius, and kitties Almond and Freya. We’re moving across the country from California to Wisconsin (where Shannon is from) and could use some help.

Our Story:

We blended our families in 2022. Kevin and Shannon fell in love in 2021 while she was guest directing at the college in his hometown. After Magnolia and Kevin joined Shannon and kitties in California, little Gaius joined the pack. We’ve been surviving out here on Shannon’s artist and professor work for quite some time while Kevin is raising baby Gaius and taking care of us all. We feel pretty successful in our surviving this area in the arts/education for so long considering these industries have been shrinking for a while now. But it has been a hustle to make ends meet with a family of 4. We’ve also had a few health scares as adults in the past few years that we’ve managed to get through.

Recently, Magnolia has been diagnosed with a potentially progressive illness that requires round-the-clock parental support. She’s doing beautifully all things considered and is excited to move closer to family. She’s asked us not to share diagnosis or details, suffice it to say that catching it this young is a great thing. Now we just need care and time. Although services out here are pretty good, the systems are not set up to support children with this illness and their families if they have other children or jobs. The burden of extra full-time parenting has made this life in our beloved Bay Area untenable. We need to be near family and support of another kind now. With the conclusion of Shannon’s visiting professorship, she has decided to turn down the tenure track position so we can care for our little family in a more sustainable place for artists and educators with families.

Since Shannon’s contract concludes in May, and with no concrete prospects in Wisconsin, we’re stuck with the cost of the move and some medical expenses that insurance isn’t covering. The move itself is looking to be at least $16,000. The medical expenses will be ongoing, and we’re hoping to be able to access services for Magnolia when we get to WI.

We’re gonna be okay… eventually. We have love and family and a place to land. We figured we’d ask for help since we usually don’t. We could use some help now! And we’ll take any kind of help: messages of support and love, cold hard cash, offers to help pack boxes, toys sent ahead for the kids (see wishlist), play dates, and prayers from afar. Please don’t give if you don’t have the capacity. If you’re loaded and were going to spend it anyways, we’d be happy to receive it. We love you all no matter what.

Thank you for your time and attention. It’s a difficult time to be a human in this world. Build community. Care for yourself. Be love.

We leave the Bay in late May and we’ll miss our chosen family out here so much! Come say goodbye in person before we go