Chicago Women Will Rise & Thrive. Your Support Matters.

2025 has been a year unlike any other for &Rise. We started to put down roots in Chicago by signing a lease on our first permanent location. We’ve fine-tuned our events and programs to serve our community better. We’ve also had to lean on each other as the economic and political climate has shifted. These unprecedented challenges have allowed our purpose, our personality, and the value of our services to shine through in a much stronger way.

Every dollar you donate this year is a vote of confidence and support for our grassroots effort to help women trauma survivors become the ultimate versions of themselves, no matter what hardships they’ve faced. Our goal is to raise $10,000 to cover the first few months of support groups in 2026 and provide 10 free counseling sessions to the next 5 women on our waiting list.

We’re a Latina-founded organization that serves women survivors of abuse and violence. The community that we’ve built has become a vital support system for those who were already struggling and those who are now being targeted. At the same time, between inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty, fundraising has been an uphill battle.

In spite of it all, we’ve seen major victories as an organization and as a community. We launched a couple of new support groups for a total of 10 weekly groups in Chicago and northwest Indiana. We’ve grown our grant writing team and secured $78,471 in grant funding, more than any year prior. Our Galentine’s event sold out. We tried a new format for our annual gala, and Comedy Night was a success. If you’ve already shown up for us this year, we thank you.

We still have a long way to go — right now, there are over 40 women on our waiting list for counseling. Any contribution you can make, no matter how small, will help us get these women the care they need.

Here's a testimonial from a support group participant:

I been coming to &Rise for a good couple of months afraid of my past and embarrassed. When I attended the group therapy it was a life changing for me. I was not alone in this journey and I shouldn't feel ashamed of what happened to me. I am learning how to rediscover myself and how to take care of myself. I am so blessed that we have a place like this to be ourselves.
- Mary Delgado

Your donations foster a sense of hope and empowerment within our community. We've witnessed individuals gaining confidence, developing healthier coping skills, and actively participating in shaping a brighter future for themselves and their families.

Here’s how your donation will help:

$15 provides a welcome basket to one survivor

$35 covers a support group session for one woman

$50 covers two support group sessions

$100 provides an individual counseling session

$250 provides three individual counseling sessions

$500 covers six counseling sessions

$1,000 covers 10 counseling sessions and 10 support groups

Our support groups and counseling services are in demand because they work. We’re growing quickly, and now is the perfect time to get involved.

Women trauma survivors can’t wait for access to these life-changing services. Please make a donation today.

Rise & Thrive 2025 Annual Fundraiser

Help us serve more women trauma survivors in Chicago, Indiana, and nationwide with free counseling, support groups, and events in their own communities.

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