William Way LGBT Community Center has launched a unique fundraising model to support one of its most unique services.
The center is enlisting Citizen Philanthropists to assist in raising money that will fund its Peer Counseling Program.
The counseling program, a one-of-a-kind in the region, allows community members to receive free sessions from a trained peer counselor. While the program is provided free of charge, it does require expenditures on training and other elements.
To meet those costs, the center has partnered with Citizen Effect, which works to empower individual volunteers to fundraise for philanthropic efforts. Its new Philly4Philly initiative is aiming to round up 150 CPs to give of their time to make a difference for deserving nonprofits.
Center executive assistant Paul Blore said board member Rudy Flesher introduced the board to the concept, which Citizen Effect has employed in other cities. Earlier this year, Blore, development director Michael Pomante and others visited a Philly4Philly CP recruitment event and connected with an organizer.
“We got the chance to speak about our work, and while they didn’t have a specific LGBT focus, they do have a focus on mental health,” Blore said. With the partnership, both Citizen Effect and William Way will work on recruiting CPs and have already signed up five — halfway to the goal of 10. Each CP will aim to raise $1,365, enough to support the training and recruitment of one peer counselor.
The Peer Counseling Program provides up to eight sessions of non-clinical counseling, with no fee or medical insurance needed. The program is specifically designed for those who lack insurance and thus could be prevented from seeking clinical counseling, as well as those who are hesitant to disclose their sexual orientation or HIV status to a provider.
The counselors, who are overseen by a licensed clinical psychologist, can provide referrals for further services.
The center brings on a new class of peer counselors each year, although counselors are given the option of remaining on for more than a year.
Blore said the CP role is an innovative way for center supporters to give back to the organization and the community.
“This is a chance for people who support us to take it upon themselves to go the extra step,” he said.
For more information, visit www.CitizenEffect.org or www.Philly4Philly.org.