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| My Friend's Place
Newsletter |
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The mission of My Friend's Place is to assist and inspire homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives. | |
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| Greetings! |
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As we reach the halfway point for the summer, My Friend's Place is working hard to keep up with economic challenges and an increased need for our services. Read on to learn more about recent changes at My Friend's Place and how people like you are making a difference.
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A Note from the Executive Director
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I wanted to
take a moment to thank you for your support and introduce myself as the new
Executive Director of My Friend's Place.
For
the past nine years, I have been the Clinical Director of My Friend's Place and
am now deeply honored to move into the Executive Director's position.
I am looking forward to meeting the challenges ahead and
anxious to tell you about the incredible work the staff is doing. First,
though, let me simply say thank you. One of the reasons I'm so excited about
this opportunity is the incredible commitment of our supporters.
These are incredibly challenging times for all of us, including homeless youth. In June, My Friend's Place experienced a 30% increase in youth visits compared to the same time last year, and the number of young people coming to us for the first time has increased by 25%.
Over the next few months, My Friend's
Place will need your support. We have
taken measures to ensure our survival by trimming expenses significantly. But the success of our mission and the future of the youth who come to
My Friend's Place, depends, as it always has, on the support of our community.
This is a pivotal, and exciting, time for My Friend's Place. I look forward to partnering with you far into the future as
we ensure these vulnerable youth have access to our critical services that
afford them the possibility to achieve greatness.
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Riding the Circle Book Release Party
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For eleven years, My Friend's Place has teamed up with CalArts Community Arts Partnership (CAP) MFA students to offer creative writing workshops to the homeless youth of Hollywood. The workshops are an incredible tool for self-expression, community building, and therapeutic engagement. The writing is often raw and brutally honest but also serves as a testament to the bravery and resiliency of the young people as they face incredible challenges.
 Every year, MFP and CAP showcase some of the work in an anthology, Riding the Circle. To celebrate the release of 11th edition of the book in May, MFP and CAP volunteers and staff served a special meal while young people read their pieces aloud at an "Open Mic" event, applauding each other's work. My Friend's Place congratulates the youth on their accomplishments!
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Volunteer of the Month, Robin Harrington
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 My Friend's Place is proud to recognize Robin Harrington as our July
Volunteer of the Month! Robin has served at MFP in multiple capacities over the past
year and a half, most recently working with her team at Lemon Lime Agency to gather donations for June's amazing online auction. | |
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Save the Date!
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The Circus is coming!
Join us
on October 23rd for a special performance of Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza," benefitting My
Friend's Place and the Los Angeles Youth Network.
Click here for more information and look for your invitation soon!
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June Fundraising Update
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 Our June fundraiser was an incredible success! With five weeks of auction sales, individual donations, and special promotions, we came within spitting distance of our $5,000 goal.
THANK YOU to everyone who bid, donated, and told your friends!
Extra thanks to Robin Harrington and the Lemon Lime Agency for garnering the auction items!
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Spread the Word on Facebook!
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A member of our Facebook community recently raised $445 and engaged 28 new donors simply by asking his friends to help MFP. You can help too!
1. Become a fan of My Friend's Place.
2. Join our Cause.
3. Invite your friends to join, give, or just learn more.
My Friend's Place began as a committed grassroots group of community members. Spread the word and help us keep serving the homeless youth of Hollywood!
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Several young people who access our services are moving into stable housing. This is a big step on their path to self-sufficiency and we are very excited for them! As this is the first time moving into their own place for many of them, they are in need of several basic items:- Kitchenware (plates, pots and pans, glasses and cups, utensils, etc.)
- Small appliances (microwaves, toasters, etc.)
- Household items (new towels, new sheets, etc.)
Some of them also have a need for larger items (furniture, beds, fridges). If you are interested in providing these AND able to help with transporting the items, please contact Stuart at the email below. We are hoping to begin collecting the items next week (beginning July 20). Email Stuart at sbrewster@myfriendsplace.org with questions or to arrange a drop off.
***Please do not drop off the items without arranging it first. We have limited storage so it will be important for us to know it's coming.***
Thank you!
See the rest of our in kind wishlist
Visit our secure donation page
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