Love Forward & Encircle: LGBTQ Aid and Mental Health

Love Forward, an initiative started by professional soccer players, Christen Westphal and Madison “Po” Pogarch, has elevated to support Encirlce again this year.

Trivia Night at Han’s Kombucha was a hit last year, but the pair has elected to go a different route this year by designing and selling t-shirts and merchandise on Po’s Etsy Shop, (po)sitive apparel. Link to the shirts can be found here: https://positiveapparelxpo.etsy.com/listing/4314616207

If you want to contribute but don’t need another t-shirt in your closet, there are various options in the “Future is Inclusive” section of the shop, all profits are going toward Encircle. If that still doesn’t work for you, you can donate any amount here.

With their values of mental health continuing to be at the forefront, Christen and Po chose Encirlce for their work in providing a safe and supportive space while focusing on social connection, emotional and psychological skills, positive emotional experiences, and authenticity. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Encircle seeks to combat these statistics by helping LGBTQ+ individuals form meaningful relationships and develop skills to support themselves psychologically and emotionally. Guests who have utilized the provided space and servieces have reported experiencing less depression, less anxiety, and overall better mental health. Through the services they offer, each of these outcomes has been producing more than a 98% success rate. 98% SUCCESS RATE. H*CK YEAH. More than 200,000 mental health services have been provided at Encircle since 2017!!Link to Positive Apparel