Our Story

What started as an idea to keep our doors open turned into something much bigger.

In our first campaign, we raised $10,000 to keep Grae Wellness Lounge open. Then something bigger happened. People weren't only showing up for services, they were showing up for community. Grae Wellness Lounge is centered on your recovery, powered by your community. Every recovery service provided by Grae Wellness: the massage therapists, wellness education, nurse practitioners, the in-house café, the venue itself, are owned and operated by people from the community.

Every week, something special happens.

Coffee is poured. Bodies are restored. Conversations flow. Strangers become familiar.

We didn't just build a wellness day, we built a space people need.

What We're Building

We're creating something New York has never seen before:

A community-owned wellness lounge: where every element - the coffee, the barista, the massage therapists, the products, the experience - is powered by the community itself.

This is not about “renting space,” this is about owning the experience.

Our Goal

This week we've expanded. Grae Wellness Lounge is now open Monday-Wednesday 9am-5pm (cafe 9am-1pm). This isn't a plan, this is happening. Your contribution sustains what's in motion and builds it into something other communities can replicate.

Phase 1 - $10K (Complete)

We stabilized Wednesday and proved the model works. Mon-Wed is now live.

Phase 2 - $15K (Next Steps)

Sustain three-day operations. Expand cafe hours with demand.

Phase 3 - $20K (Target)

Full infrastructure locked.

Introduce Grae Merchandise.

Build a model we can replicate in other communities.

Why This Matters

We believe wellness should be: accessible, community-driven, and owned by the people it serves.

Too often, wellness spaces are exclusive, expensive, and disconnected from the communities around them.

We're changing that.

At Grae, you can walk in, get an express massage, sip a handcrafted drink, and feel like you belong.

How Your Support Helps

Your contribution directly funds:

Sustaining three day operations (staff + operations)

Supporting local baristas and therapists

Building a sustainable community-driven model

Launching merchandise that reinvests back into the space

Be Part of This

We raised $10,000 on a dream.

Now, we're raising $20,000 on proof.

If you've ever wished for a space to breathe, reset, and feel held by your community, this is it.

And we're building it together.

Donate. Share. Be The Bridge.

Please note: No promotions or incentives are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe