Dear Friend,

Recently, we had the opportunity to celebrate several young people from the My Friend’s Place community as they crossed a stage to receive diplomas and certificates — simple pieces of paper that carry the weight of tremendous perseverance, courage, and all that it took to arrive at that moment.

At My Friend’s Place, we have the great honor of walking alongside young people as they move toward futures they once may not have believed were possible. We witness setbacks, disappointments, and painful moments of doubt. And we also witness extraordinary resilience, growth, and triumph.

But these are complex times, and alongside the celebrations, the challenges young people face today are profound. Every day, approximately 4,000 young people in LA County are still surviving without a safe place to call home.

Los Angeles' publicly funded system of care for youth impacted by homelessness —including services, housing, and poverty relief—is fracturing under budget constraints. Meanwhile, the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and our Los Angeles community struggle to ensure adequate resources to respond to this moment of complex and intersecting crises.

All of this leaves more young people with fewer places to turn, and more coming to My Friend’s Place in need of reliable safety, stability, and support. This underscores why our work at My Friend’s Place matters now more than ever. And it’s why your support is absolutely essential right now.

As we near the end of our fiscal year on June 30, we’re asking for your help. My Friend’s Place has always been powered by the generosity and compassion of our community. That’s never been more true or necessary than it is today.

And right now, your investment in My Friend’s Place can have even greater impact. Please help us raise $100,000 by June 30 to cover critical costs as we close this fiscal year, ensuring we can start the next fiscal year on July 1 from a place of stability.

Your contribution, up to $100,0000, will be matched by a generous partner. Recurring monthly gifts and contributions from those making a first-time gift will be matched 2:1. All other gifts will be matched 1:1.

With gratitude and great resolve,

Heather Carmichael
Executive Director,
My Friend’s Place

PS: Our generous friends at Texel Foundation have kicked off the campaign with an incredible lead gift. Please help us reach our goal this June and fully maximize this opportunity, so the young people can continue to reach for their dreams and step into new chapters filled with possibility.