Support for The Hess Family

Dear Friends & Family of The Hess Family,

We are creating this GoFundMe on behalf of our incredible friends Courtney and Neil Hess. Courtney, a woman who has spent her entire life pouring her heart into others, and Neil who has spent his working hard to support his family. Now, they find themselves in a situation where they need our support. They would never ask for this themselves, but they have allowed us to make this post.

The Hess family is the definition of selflessness, community, and giving. If you’ve ever been to their house, you’ve been welcomed to their controlled chaos and been offered food, beverages, leftovers, kids' clothing, and random trinkets (thanks to Courtney’s special skill of gift-curating). Neil and Courtney are the king and queen of child-wrangling and have opened their home to many.

Courtney is a dedicated special education teacher (maybe school-obsessed and unfathomably caring) and a loving wife to Neil, who works his a** off for his family (often odd hours and weekends). They are amazing parents to three wonderful children Elizabeth, Elaine, and Elliot. They have always shown up for everyone around them with unwavering love and energy (Diet Coke and gift bag in Courtney's hand!).

Recently, Courtney’s family has faced an unimaginable series of challenges. Just last month, her beloved father, Ed, passed away after a brave battle with cancer. As if the grief of that loss wasn’t enough, tragedy struck again when their family home (which was also her childhood house and a testament to her deep love for her family) caught fire. The house has been severely damaged, leaving them displaced for at least six months. While Courtney and Neil are doing everything they can to create stability for their children, their young hearts are scared and confused, wondering where they’ll live and even if Santa will find them this Christmas.

Courtney has always been the one giving—to her students, her colleagues, her family, and her friends. But right now, she’s at her breaking point. Home repairs, temporary housing, and the emotional toll on her and her family are creating overwhelming challenges. For someone who has spent her life being the rock for others, it’s incredibly difficult for her to admit she needs help. Yet, after so much loss and hardship, she’s humbly taking this step to receive support from her community.

This is where we come in. Let’s rally around Courtney, Neil and their family to help them rebuild their home and find a sense of normalcy again. Every donation, no matter the size, will go directly toward essential repairs, temporary living expenses, and making sure their children can find joy and comfort in this holiday season.

Courtney and Neil have given so much of themselves to others. Now, it’s our turn to give back to them. Together, we can lift some of the weight off their shoulders and show them that they are surrounded by people who care deeply about their family.

Thank you for your kindness, and generosity, and for being a part of this journey to help The Hess Family get back on their feet. Please share this campaign with people you know so we can spread the word and make an even bigger impact!

With heartfelt gratitude,

Friends of Courtney & Neil