Dear Friends and Supporters,
As I look back on this year, I am inspired by the resilience of our community and the remarkable progress we’ve made in the fight against commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC). More than 396 young people in 2024 turned to the HYPE Center this year, finding not just a safe space but a foundation for hope, healing, and growth. With over 25 co- located partners, we’ve created a network of support that addresses every aspect of a young person’s well-being—empowering them to not only prevent their exploitation but to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
At the heart of our mission is the belief that prevention is the most powerful form of protection. Programs like Family and Me (FAM) and the Supplemental Survivor Income Pilot provide critical financial stability and tailored, trauma-informed care to those at-risk. These initiatives help youth stay connected to supportive families, continue their education, find meaningful employment, and pursue their dreams without fear or barriers. This year, thanks to your support, we’ve not only expanded our reach but also strengthened our capacity to meet the unique needs of every young person who walks through our doors. Your continued commitment makes all of this possible. Every story of transformation, every life we help guide toward independence and safety, is a testament to the power of our shared purpose. None of this would have been possible without you: our donors, our partners, our advocates, and our tireless staff. Your support has been our foundation and our inspiration. As we look to the year ahead, I am filled with hope for what we can accomplish together. Let us continue to imagine new solutions, challenge the status quo, and build a world where every young person can grow up safe, respected, and free.
With gratitude and optimism, Francesca Gonzalez
Dear Friends of Freedom Forward,
Thank you for being part of our community. If you are receiving this report, you have volunteered time and energy, donated items, invested resources, made introductions on our behalf, and served as a thought-partner in challenges and opportunities that have come our way. As Co-founder, and Chair of the Board, I thank you for being part of Freedom Forward. While this report is reflective of our efforts last year, we cannot ignore you’re reading this now, in 2025. We are living in extraordinary, uncertain times, and our team and board are adapting to changes as they come, as are the young people we serve and our partners. Despite these challenges, our job is to show up even when the current is against us. You have read Francesca’s note: over 396 young people in 2024 took steps towards their healing because of HYPE and our 25 partners last year. We continue to show up for them. It is true that you can see a list of outputs of services they accessed on our dashboard, but the change in their lives is happening because of something much bigger: love. Every time a young person walks through our doors, here's what they might hear. “I see you.” “I hear you.” “You should rest.” "Here, get something to eat." "What do you need today?" “I remember what you said.” I look forward to all the ways we will all continue to show up for our community in the months to come. And if you haven’t stopped by in a while, come see love in action at HYPE.
In Gratitude,
Natasha Dolby
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