Help Matthew's Children Find Stability

Help Us Give Matthew’s Children a Future

Hi, I’m Chris Martin.

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write, but I’m doing it because three amazing kids are about to lose their dad—and they need our help.

I’m reaching out to friends, coworkers, and kind strangers. If you’re able to donate, share, or even send up a prayer, it would mean the world to me and my family. This is about giving Matthew A. Evans’s children a shot at safety, stability, and a future—at a time when their world is falling apart.

What’s Happening

Just over a week ago, my longtime friend Matthew was brought to the ER. His cancer had become aggressive—fast. He lost over 20% of his body weight in less than three weeks and now requires 24-hour care.

He’s currently in the ICU at Mayo Clinic. We are working to get him transferred into hospice care so he can spend his final days somewhere peaceful and comfortable.

He can no longer care for himself—or for his children.

Why This Is So Urgent

Matt is the only consistent support these kids have.

No big extended family. No financial safety net. Just him—and them.

There is one grandmother who loves them deeply, but she’s limited in what she can do. And while their mom is still around, she’s been battling addiction for over a decade. Despite everything, Matt’s always held out hope. One of the things he told us was:

“I just want her to come back and be the mom I know she can be, before it’s too late.”

Matt has never stopped loving, never stopped hoping, never stopped fighting for these kids.

Meet the Kids

His oldest, 21, still lives at home. She’s just started making plans—exploring career paths, getting ready to move into adulthood. But losing her dad now? It’s something no one that age is ready to handle on their own.

His son, 18, is finishing high school and planning to attend RCTC, the local tech college. Just last week, he asked me if he should drop out of school to work full-time and support his sisters.

That broke my heart.

We told him absolutely not. Jess and I will help however we can while we figure out long-term options.

His youngest, 16, has called Matt “Dad” since she was five. She isn’t his biological child, but when her home life became unsafe, Matt took custody so she wouldn’t be separated from her siblings. She’s been by his side at the hospital every day—quiet, loyal, and completely heartbroken.

Who Matt Is

I met Matt in 2000 when I was still in high school. He was my boss at Taco John’s—one of my first jobs. Back then, I was heading down a rough path—skipping school, messing around, losing direction.

He saw it. And without being pushy, he started mentoring me.

I’ll never forget what he told me:

“If me, a tatted-up family failure, can get a 4.0 GPA, so can you.”

That stuck with me—and honestly, it helped me finish school.

He never judged me for being broke, or for being a teen dad. Instead, he’d say:

“When you chose to be a man and have children, you chose to give up the party years… but don’t worry, we’re still young enough to enjoy them before we’re wrinkly.”

That was Matt.

Straightforward, kind, and always encouraging people to be better. He became a huge part of my life—and I’m not the only one he helped.

He’s also been a stagehand for more than 20 years—hardworking, reliable, and the kind of guy who made people smile even on the longest shows. And yeah—he’s a cat guy. A serious cat guy. He’s worked with local rescues to rehome strays in his mobile home park. That’s just who he is. Someone who shows up, someone who cares.

The Home

Matt owns an old mobile home—and it’s falling apart.

A few years ago, a storm-damaged tree took out parts of the roof. He begged the park to deal with it, but they didn’t act until the damage was done. And because the home was built in the early ’70s, it was considered “uninsurable.”

So Matt paid out of pocket to patch the roof with a rubber seal. But the inside of the home still suffered—caved-in ceilings, broken roof joists over his daughter’s room, and eventually, a furnace fire that led to it being permanently shut off.

The family has been using space heaters to heat the home. A water pipe burst over winter. Contractors who’ve seen it said it’s not salvageable. It needs to be replaced.

What We’re Doing Right Now

My wife Jess and I along with our close friend Don are doing everything we can. We’ve been staying at the house, getting the kids to and from school, handling bills, coordinating care—and trying to keep them from falling apart.

We’re also in the process of transferring custody of Matt’s youngest daughter so she’ll have the stability and safety she needs.

We’re doing our best…

But we can’t do it alone.

What This Fundraiser Will Support

We’re hoping to raise enough to give these kids the kind of safe, stable home their dad dreamed of leaving them.

Primary Goal – A Down Payment on a Modest Home

Something affordable that Matt’s son could realistically maintain on an entry-level income. This would give all three kids a chance to stay together and move forward in safety.

️ Second Option – Replace the Mobile Home

If a traditional home isn’t possible, we’d like to replace the existing structure with something newer and safer. The lot rent is affordable, and this would preserve the location.

Last Resort – Temporary Repairs and Support

If we can’t raise enough for housing, we’ll keep patching and covering bills while we work with local programs like Habitat for Humanity and the county for long-term help.

Any leftover funds will be split evenly among the three kids. The youngest’s portion will be held in trust until she turns 18, with guidance from a financial advisor.

Carrying Matt’s Legacy Forward

Matt has spent his life fighting for his kids. Holding them up. Giving them love and stability in a world that didn’t make it easy.

Now it’s our turn to carry that forward.

Your donation—no matter how big or small—matters. Your prayers, your shares, your kindness. It all adds up. It all makes a difference.

Thank you for reading.

Thank you for caring.

From the bottom of my heart,

Chris Martin