 Happy New Year and Happy Birthday, MFP!
Celebrating 25 Years of Service to Homeless Youth! Dear Friends,
Happy New Year to you! I couldn't be more thrilled to share that 2013 is also My Friend's Place's 25th Anniversary!
Just to be able to put those words "25th Anniversary" into writing fills me with a profound sense of accomplishment and gratitude to you - our amazing community - for ensuring that MFP is able to show up every year for the homeless youth who need us.
I can hardly believe it has been almost 13 years since I began my tenure at MFP. What an honor it has been to serve these extraordinarily resilient young people. My heart has been so touched by the youth who have suffered all kinds of unacceptable abuse, but have somehow had the slightest flicker of hope that they deserve more, and reached out to us to partner with them in their journey toward a future. As we celebrate our 25th birthday, I reflect on our monthly birthday parties for the youth. This is a time to celebrate the individual beauty of every young person who steps into our Safe Haven. As we grow older, many of us do our best to avoid celebrating another birthday. But for these youth, "Happy Birthday" means they've lived to see the hope of a new year. For some of these youth, it is the first time anyone has ever sung them this song. Imagine the power of your life being celebrated for the first time!
As I reflect on my time at MFP as the clinical director and now as executive director, I recognize the power of the small things we do, like singing Happy Birthday. But by creating a community in which we provide food, clothing, safety and belonging, employment support, creative arts, therapeutic counseling and medical care, our impact is much larger. We protect the civil rights of these youth, we fight injustices like abuse and sex trafficking, we inspire toward a future, we halt generational homelessness, and we celebrate the individuality of every young person regardless of their sexual orientation, race, or mental health status.
I invite you to join us in celebrating our anniversary this year. Volunteer. Donate your gently-used clothes, shoes and other items. Support our work through a monthly gift. Commit to our future by including us in your estate plan. Tell your friends, family and colleagues about homelessness among youth and how they can do something about it.
With much gratitude, I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013!
Warmly,
Heather
Heather Carmichael, LCSW Executive Director |
