Julie Grant needs a forever home!

If your life has not been touched by Julie Grant then chances are, you have never met her. Our resident theater arts professional, teacher, therapist, spiritual adviser and all around Fairy Godmother is in need of a little assistance. After 30 years of living in her cozy apartment on Queen Anne Hill, she is being relocated. “Relocated” is the kind word for being kicked out and displaced and not receiving compensation or financial help for which she is legally entitled.

For many of us in the United States, and most of us who work in the arts, we are just one disaster from financial ruin. A trip to the vet can snowball into a hefty bill, minor car trouble can easily turn into major debt. A cancer diagnosis is catastrophic, not only debilitating for the body and spirit but a big F#$K you to the finances. Toss in, income loss, aging parents, cost of living increases, unscrupulous landlords....and oh yeah, A GLOBAL PANDEMIC. Sadly, like many others, Julie ticks all of these boxes. Unfortunately, there is no "pulling yourself up by your bootstraps" when you are challenged with ongoing cancer-related disability.

Nobody should have to start a Go Fund Me to help pay for basic human needs, but here we are. We are hoping to raise enough money to cover moving fees, deposits and rent to help get her through the year and give her a mighty head start on the next one. Julie’s lease has run out and she needs a home now. Our hope is we can get her into a manufactured home or an apartment in January. With your help I know we can do it.

Thank you in advance for helping Julie afford a forever home.

TESTIMONIALS about our Julie

I don’t need to tell you how many lives Julie Grant has touched, but I am not a woman of few words so I will.

Julie has been a dear friend and colleague and an absolute lifeline for our family. When I call her my fairy godmother there is only the slightest bit of hyperbole. If there is anyone who can turn a rotting pumpkin into a sparkling carriage, it's Julie. If I had a penny for every time Julie has improved my day, I could finance this Go Fund Me myself. No matter what is going on in her life she makes you feel like you are the most important person in the universe. I have watched her work her magic with everyone she encounters. I continue to learn and grow from her example and I am most definitely a better person for knowing her. Though I have confidence she can turn this rotting pumpkin of a year into a sparkling carriage, perhaps we can use our collective powers (and money) to help her along the way. Bibbity Bobbity Boo, my friends!

Deonn Ritchie Hunt

My wish for Julie is what she has given so many of us - peace, unconditional love, wisdom, time and support. I’ve known Julie for almost 20 years and she never fails to lift my spirits and gift my soul with her generosity of spirit, willingness to listen, selflessness and never-ending optimism. I know she has been this and more to her students, friends, peers, clients, doctors, acquaintances, pets and family and so I hope this GoFundMe helps Julie find the peace and safety she so deserves. If you’ve been touched by Julie, please help us help her. Thank you so much!

Lani Brockman

"Julie is one of the most genuinely good-hearted people I know. Once upon a time, I was lucky enough to be her student, benefitting from both her deep knowledge and passion for the craft of theater-making, and also her genuine connection with students. As a teen, it's easy to feel caught "in between" being a child and an adult, but Julie treated us as HUMANS, worthy of her respect and care. Many years later, I had the pleasure of working alongside her as a colleague, and those same qualities were even more apparent. She never gives less than 100% of her energy and attention to her students, always seeking to serve their best interests.

I wish that we lived in a world/society where the people who feed our souls and raise our children are compensated appropriately for the world-changing work they do. Those who continue to do this work despite the financial strain it brings are truly brave and selfless, and it is our moral and ethical duty to support them when and if they are ever in need.

Julie, I hope that this transition is as smooth as possible for you, and that you quickly find yourself on solid ground, loved and supported by those whom you have loved and supported all these years."

Sierra Kagen Zanghi-Former student and colleague

“Julie has always been such a happy and positive presence, ready to give advice, support or kind words whenever needed (and always knows exactly what to say when you need it most). She is truly the most wonderful human. ❤️”

Charlotte Charney, former student

“The perfume of sandalwood, the scent of rosebay and jasmine travel only as far as the wind. But the fragrance of goodness travels with us through all the worlds. Like garlands woven from a heap of flowers, fashion your life as a garden of beautiful deeds.”

--Buddha

Julie Grant is a doer of beautiful deeds. It is my great good fortune to be able to say that Julie has been my best friend since our first day of graduate school together, almost 40 years ago. I cannot even begin to count all of the amazing gifts that Julie has shared, with me and so many others. How many people has she supported over the years, by teaching, listening, counseling, coaching, advising, encouraging, and comforting? Julie has been there during peoples’ most challenging times; she has often held the hands of people as they took their last breaths. I have heard her say more than once: “No one should ever die alone.”

If you are reading this, no doubt you have been the lucky recipient of Julie’s beautiful deeds, and have been graced by her generosity and care. Julie is being faced with the loss of her home of 32 years, through no fault of her own. She will need to pay for first/last months’ rent, professional movers, etc., as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. If you are able to contribute to make this transition easier for her, please do. Let’s envelop her in the fragrance of beautiful deeds.

Molly Robinson (The luckiest best friend ever)

Julie Grant has played many important roles in my life over the years, beginning as a teacher and invaluable mentor when I was a teenager. Upon entering adulthood, I was beyond honored to see our relationship grow into a lasting friendship, sustained by tea dates and the sharing of cat photos.

Those who've been lucky enough to have tea with Julie know how invested she is in your well-being. She remembers every detail you've previously shared, and follows up with love, care, and never judgement. Through some of the most difficult moments in my life, a tea date with Julie was medicine.

Julie has put in so much emotional time and investment in her friends and students over the years without ever asking for anything in return. Helping her now through this difficult time is not even a question.

Aarin Wright

I LOVE Julie. She's been awesome and amazing to talk to over Covid. I'm glad she's in my life. I'm so lucky to have met her. Talking with Julie is my very favorite part of the week.

Clara, a grateful therapy kid.

(it's ok that you say she's my therapist because I think everyone would be lucky to have an awesome therapist like Julie)