Save the Center for Earth-Based Healing

WHO WE ARE

The Center for Earth-Based Healing is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization offering one-of-a-kind trauma-informed ecotherapy programs for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. We are a young organization, and for the past 3 years, we have been primarily funded by a federal grant that has resulted in program expansion and our program applications tripling. We are turning away two times the number of survivors than we currently have the capacity to serve because our life-saving programs for survivors of sexual and domestic violence are in such high demand.

THE CHALLENGE

We were recently informed that the Center for Earth-Based Healing, along with 30 other innovative and creative organizations in Virginia, will not be receiving any continuing federal funding, and as of July 1, 2019, we will have zero funding for our programs or daily operations.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 by August 15 or we will have to close our doors indefinitely, as our next program is offered in September. We need $27,000 per year to keep our two current programs up and running, and as of July 1, we will have $7,000 in the bank.

Yes, this is a challenging situation, but a miracle was also set into motion 5 years ago, and support is being offered, but we need your help to make this happen.

THE MIRACLE (Story shared with permission)

Eden attended one of our programs 5 years ago and has since turned her entire life around. In 2014, she fled an unsurvivable marriage from half-way across the country, and she had her 4-year old son with her who had recently been diagnosed with autism. Eden had no home, no car, no job, and no money, but she reclaimed her power and created a new and healthy life for herself and her son. She is living in Delaware, her son is in a school with special programs for children with autism, she is in a healthy relationship, and she works as the Marketing Director for a company named GOLO.

Unbeknownst to the Center for Earth-Based Healing, back in March of 2019, GOLO’s owners and Eden sat down to talk about “giving back” since the company is growing. Eden decided to share her story, and she said, “If it weren’t for the Center for Earth-Based Healing, you would not have me as your Marketing Director. Their program saved my life.”

WHY $10,000 WILL SAVE OUR PROGRAMS

Because of Eden’s passion, GOLO has offered to support the Center for Earth-Based Healing by MATCHING $10,000! If we can raise this $10,000 by August 15, then GOLO will match that and write the Center for Earth-Based Healing a check for another $10,000. This will allow our two current programs (Camp Mabon and Camp Ostara) to be funded for one more year.

This will give Michele Zehr, the founder and Executive Director of the Center for Earth-Based Healing, and the Board of Directors, the time needed to determine how to replace this lost funding, and most importantly, survivors will still be able to receive our life-saving and life-changing programs.

WHAT THIS FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR:

This funding will be used to keep our website and online application system operating (survivors apply online through our website), we will be able to buy the food and supplies needed for our programs, we will be able to rent the lodge that is used for our programs, we will be able to purchase liability insurance, we will be able to pay 6 staff members who work only at the two programs (there will be no year-round staff and all future program development will stop for now), and most importantly, we will continue to offer our programs free of charge for survivors.

We have collected data over the past 3 years and know that 99.9% of survivors who apply would not be able to attend if they had to pay the $1,100 per person cost that is required to offer one program and the remaining .1% stated they would need the time to save the money.

HOW YOU CAN HELP US

Please contribute (tax-deductible) what you can right now ($5, $10, $20, $100) share this campaign with your community, and ask that they give what they can. We only need $10,000 by August 15, and the remainder of the funding will be provided by GOLO.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Michele Zehr at [email protected]

Thank you so much. If many give a little, this is possible.

In Healing Power,

Michele Zehr, M.A., M.Ed. Executive Director, Center for Earth-Based Healingwww.earthbasedhealing.org