Raising for Ryan: How Evelyn Gets Her Agency Back

Alycia, Rachel, and Lisa here! We’ve started this campaign to help our dear friend Ryan Holihan as he navigates his mother’s dual Alzheimer’s and dementia diagnosis, and battles to reclaim their legal rights regarding her care and finances.

The funds raised here will go towards legal filing and attorney’s fees, Ryan and his mother Evelyns’s household bills and expenses, as well as Evelyn’s continued care.

We first met Ryan at Ohio University as MFA candidates (acting for us, directing for Ryan!). Lisa was even Ryan’s roommate (and Alycia was just a frequent visitor who they graciously allowed to do her laundry at their house). Together Ryan, Lisa, Rachel, and Alycia laughed, cried, hugged, and swore their way through Meisner actor training, summer stock theater, and 3 of the most special years of their lives.

If you know Ryan, you no doubt love his humour, kindness, and generosity of spirit. If you don’t know Ryan, we’ll introduce you and you’ll fall in love with him too.

After graduate school in Athens, OH and some time teaching in Florida, Ryan, who’s always been close with his mom, returned to southern California. While he became Evelyn’s primary caregiver several years ago, on December 16th, 2021 doctors confirmed her diagnosis of Alzeheimer’s/dementia.

Recently one of Ryan’s siblings made many unfounded accusations and has taken control of Evelyn’s finances by becoming her temporary conservator.

It was a shock to both Ryan and Evelyn when checks started bouncing and they learned that her accounts had been emptied. In the midst of this, Ryan has been attempting to squeeze in delivery work whenever he can.

This has been the most harrowing, exhausting, and soul-crushing experience of Ryan’s life, and Evelyn has been put under considerable undue stress when she’s already especially vulnerable.

But wait—there’s very good news!

To protect his mother’s best interests, Ryan has already paid $2,500 in legal filing fees. And with a surprise court date sprung on Ryan and Evelyn just this week, hiring his own legal counsel (in addition to his mom’s court-appointed lawyer) specializing in family law became an immediate necessity (at the initial cost of $4,000; final costs yet to be determined, but preparing for upwards of $10,000).

Between the legal proceedings, the unknown timeline on when Evelyn’s funds will be returned to her, and the expectation that Evelyn’s court-appointed lawyer will seek compensation from her estate—we jumped at the chance to start this campaign. Together, we invite you to join us in supporting them with financial contributions, shares, and words of encouragement.

The funds raised here will go towards legal fees for Ryan’s defense of his mother’s rights, defense against the unfounded accusations made about him, and getting Evelyn back into the legal care of Ryan, her Power of Attorney, which has been her desire since the beginning.

And most importantly—these funds will lighten the load on Ryan and Evelyn’s shoulders and offer much-needed peace of mind that a top-notch attorney is fighting on their behalf.

With love and gratitude,

Alycia, Rachel, and Lisa