Shamoun's Fundraiser for Maven Youth
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Maven YouthSee that kid on the right? Help give others like him the yassification he so desperately needs!!
$9,275
raised by 20 people
$10,000 goal
New update
With matches and donations combined, we’ve officially crossed $5000! I could not be more thankful to all of you who have generously contributed your hard earned cash. Being totally honest, 5k was itself a stretch goal for me, but we have somehow smashed past that. I’m in awe of all of you, this has made my day/week/year/decade and I hope you all feel the weight of the incredible impact you’re making.
My personal goal has been met and totally exceeded, but with a couple short days remaining in this amazing week, I want to provide one last chance to get in on the action. Our new extra stretchy stretch goal will be $10,000. Can we do it? There’s still plenty remaining in my personal match as well as Google’s, so there’s a chance!
You may consider sharing this with friends and colleagues who might be able to help. Regardless, I hope you can sit back and relax on this beautiful Friday evening, content with the knowledge that you truly did some good. ❤️
Jokes aside...
We are in a time of crisis for people like me, especially those at the age I was in that photograph above - just a wee 16 years old. Mental health rates for LGBT+ youth have plummeted as our society experiences a backlash to recent advances in our freedoms and visibility. Institutions and technology companies, once hailed as heralds of a forward-thinking and prosperous new society, have withdrawn from vulnerable communities like ours in what can only be described as a profound betrayal of their own supposed values. Now more than ever, Queer youth need spaces that grant sincere affirmation and safety. The safety to experiment, to learn, to grow into their ideal selves as any young person should. A space where they can truly see themselves as the engineers of a brighter future.
At Maven Youth, we have been creating that space every summer for 10 years. Our two-week summer tech camps are an adventure unlike any other; through creative hands-on learning and direct partnership with LGBT+ tech professionals, youth gain confidence in their own abilities - to build with modern technology, but also to resist by carving out Queer spaces of joy even in an environment where many hesitate to stand up for us. Our programs are run entirely by youth themselves, ensuring that all youth can recognize their power as leaders and changemakers.
Doing this work is not cheap. While youth leaders are with us, we cover meals, transportation, and even housing in major cities such as SF and NYC. We do our utmost to prepare our leaders for the challenges - and joys - of the summer ahead, which ideally means flying all 10-15 of them from around the USA to one place for a long weekend retreat. As many of our youth leaders come from socioeconomic disadvantage, we also ensure that they are compensated equitably for their time spent both training and teaching.
These costs, and many more, add up to tens of thousands each year. Yet, I can personally attest to the infinite value of each and every cent; my life has transformed immeasurably thanks to my time with Maven Youth. With rampant "anti-woke" sentiment in the air, we have less corporate support than ever.
To fill this gap and meet this need, will you pitch in with $50 now to help me reach my $5000 goal?
An experience like this is more than a summer day camp for learning to code - it's the difference between leading a life of loving self-assurance on one hand, or lonely self-consciousness on the other. Perhaps that sounds like an exaggeration, but know that it was true for me and many of my peers. Together, I know we can give every other little Shamoun out there a chance to establish the future they deserve.