What an evening.

This weekend, more than 130 members of the My Friend’s Place community gathered at Avalon Hollywood for Stories That Make Us, and together, we raised $150,000+ to support young people impacted by homelessness.

Guided through the evening by our amazing host Sam Harris, the heart of the evening was the six original stories written by young people impacted by homelessness, presented alongside an amazing story from Dr. Sheryl Recinos, a My Friend’s Place alum and board member. Our incredible professional actors brought these stories to life on stage, inviting us to listen, reflect, laugh, feel, and celebrate the young people behind the work we do every day. Brian Sonia-Wallace, Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, gathered inspiration and reflections from attendees to create a one-of-a-kind community poem that he later performed live. 

Finally, Heather Carmichael, our Executive Director, offered a sneak peek at the launch of our next chapter in ending youth homelessness: a new campus for My Friend’s Place and the young people at 5850 Hollywood Blvd, expanding programming and providing more transformative opportunities for the young people we serve. 

We are deeply grateful to every young person who trusted us with their words, every actor who brought those words to life, and every person who showed up to listen and be part of this shared experience.

Thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, volunteered, shared the event with others, and invested in creating an evening where young people’s voices were at the center. Your generosity and presence make it possible for My Friend’s Place to continue creating spaces where young people can find safety, belonging, connection, and pathways forward on their own terms.

Thank you for being part of this story.