UPDATE 7/31/23: Hurray!! We made it to our initial goal of $10,000! Now let's see if we can get to $14,000 to fully fund this position for the whole fiscal year.

The impacts of sexual abuse by clergy and other Catholic leaders can feel overwhelming, and it can be hard to know what any one person can do to make a difference for the many who have been harmed. Fortunately, we don't have to do this alone - we can make a real impact if we work together.

Since Awake was founded by small group of concerned Catholics in 2019, we have committed ourselves to education, prayer, advocacy, and survivor support. Our community of survivors, their loved ones, and ordinary Catholics grows every year, and we are grateful that more and more people who have experienced abuse have found their way to Awake to seek support and share their gifts.

Awake is doing so much to awaken our community, work for transformation, and foster healing for all who have been wounded - Our Courageous Conversation speaker series, educational posts and survivor stories on the Awake blog, annual Way of the Cross with Survivors prayer service, and outreach to priests, lay ministers, and parishes are all going strong. But the heart of our ministry is the growing community of victim-survivors who connect though offerings like our Survivor Circles and the Beloved Retreat.

Now, it's time for us to take the next step together, to strengthen our care for survivors by hiring a part-time staff member dedicated specifically to survivor care. We have the perfect person in mind - Esther Harber has been a dedicated volunteer with Awake for several years, and as an abuse survivor herself, she is able to connect with fellow survivors in a unique way. We would love to add Esther to our staff this summer so we can continue to provide personal attention to each survivor who reaches out to us and begin expanding our offerings to meet the needs of those we serve.

Will you join us in this effort? Your donation will help fund Esther's position and support Awake's many other initiatives as well. You may not be able to do everything, but we can make a real difference together.

Note: All donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Awake Milwaukee Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) public charity as determined by the IRS and is a registered charity in the State of Wisconsin.

2023 We Can Support and Empower Abuse Survivors - Together

The effects of sexual abuse last a lifetime, so our care should too.

Team Members