She taught my daughter while we were both married. Years later, both divorced, we reconnected, fell in love, Mixed our 8 kids, never happier
We would like to thank you for supporting Derek and Jessica in this year's competition. Your participation allows us to aid both the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Oceana in their respective missions to support hunger relief and ocean conservation.
Jessica and I first met years ago when she was my daughter’s preschool teacher, but the timing just wasn’t ours. Years later, after life had taken us in completely different directions, we unexpectedly found each other again. This time, everything just clicked. Our second chance turned into the greatest love story we never saw coming. Now we’re raising eight amazing kids together, making memories, laughing every day, and proving that sometimes the best love is the one that waits.
What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?Surrounded by our families on a Caribbean cruise, we watched the sun melt into the ocean as the sky filled with soft shades of pink and gold. In that perfect moment, I got down on one knee and asked Jessica to marry me. With happy tears, smiling kids, and the sound of the waves around us, she said yes. It wasn’t just the best sunset we’d ever seen, it was the beginning of our forever.
What would you do with $20,000?We would take the $20,000 and turn it into the first step toward a home big enough for all of us. A place where our kids can each have space, where dinners are loud and full of laughter, and where we finally put down roots together. It wouldn’t just be a down payment, it would be the beginning of our family home, built on love, second chances, and a future we’re creating side by side.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like America's Favorite Couple, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
