Please help me and take a moment to read this. I can’t do it without you…

Growing up as an LGBTQ kid in conservative Orange County was not easy. Without a gay role model, I often felt isolated, misunderstood and feared I wouldn’t be accepted by friends and family. This led to some dark times that so many other youths and even adults are still going through and struggle with every day. I was lucky enough to have incredible support from my friends and family when I finally came out, but my story is not the norm.

The Relational Center is near and dear to my heart and helps provide outlets to people just like me, and some of you reading this right now, who need an outlet for help. Those without role models and like-minded peers or a safe space with a community of folks who understand and can help, have the resources to make meaningful connections at The Relational Center.

Please help in making these services available to those who otherwise cannot afford counseling with therapists and are without support. As a board member (my first board position ever!), my personal goal of $5,000 is ambitious but I know we can do it. Just that amount would save so many people… If we do not reach our collective goal of $30,000 we won't be able to provide these services any longer, which would be such a loss to the community and to our members. Whether you can give $10 or $10,000 anything and everything goes to supporting those who need it most!

Words cannot express how grateful I am along with countless others for your support. ‘Tis the season, after all!

Thank you for listening. Now go get yourself a Pumpkin Spice latte, you deserve it for helping people who need you!

Every year we host a year-end appeal that offers our supporters one last opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to The Relational Center before the end of the calendar year. Our goal for the 2018 year-end appeal is $30,000. These funds are critical for sustaining The Relational Center's community. With your support, we can continue to integrate individual healing and systemic cultural change through affordable comprehensive mental health services to low-income and marginalized folks. Help us build stronger, more empathic communities that can change the world!