Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

Help Keep This Safe Haven for Kids Alive

**This fundraiser loved and highlighted by Ms. Molly Lee of Optimistic Soap!**

*This fundraiser is to benefit children in Florida, for safety and privacy reasons the location of the school is withheld.*

Verified by GLSEN Central Florida and Quinn Swearingen, Regional Organizer for Greater Orlando for Equality Florida.

In the heart of a Florida community known for hostility toward LGBTQ+ youth and educational censorship, there exists a rare and extraordinary school — a beacon of hope, love, and possibility.

For the safety of the students it serves, we’re keeping the school’s name private. But what we can share is this: it’s one of the only places in our area where children are seen, accepted, and celebrated for exactly who they are. It’s a school where trans kids can thrive, neurodivergent students are understood, and every child is empowered to grow into the person they’re meant to be — joyfully, authentically, and safely.

A Learning Community Like No Other

This project-based, learner-centered school isn’t just about academics — it’s about helping young people discover their passions, connect with their communities, and find purpose. Whether through internships, creative projects, or social justice initiatives, students are encouraged to imagine and build a better world.

It’s a school that says:

"Books are for exploring."

"Your identity is beautiful."

"There’s no wrong way to learn."

"Your voice matters."

In a place where other doors are being slammed shut, this school keeps its doors wide open.

Why We Need Your Help

This safe haven cannot continue its life-changing work without financial support. We are urgently raising funds to:

Continue to provide support for families in need

Support inclusive, trauma-informed educators

Keep the lights on in a state that’s growing darker for vulnerable kids

Protect and expand the only truly affirming educational space in the region

This isn’t just about one school. It’s about protecting an idea — that all children, no matter their identity, deserve a joyful, loving place to learn and grow.

Stories from Families:

“Living in Florida, this school has been a safe haven for our child and our family. It is more than just a wonderful school, it is a refuge for our transgender daughter and others like her, to exist in peace, with the knowledge that they are supported, valued, and protected. Here, they are able to just be kids, and learn and grow.

Prior to transferring out of a Florida public school and finding this beautiful community, our daughter lived in daily fear. No child should have to go to school each day worrying that someone may harm them for who they are, but this is what she experienced from a very early age.

Words cannot express the difference this school has made in our child’s life, and I know in the lives of many others who fled other schools just to feel safe. Before she moved to this school, I would get calls nearly every day from the school nurse that she was having anxiety attacks. Now, she never wants to miss a day. She truly feels accepted and is thriving both academically and socially, something that two years ago felt nearly impossible. She still has her struggles, but she knows that she is not alone - and her school community is a huge part of that support.

If you are feeling overwhelmed with what is happening in our country, and looking to help in some tangible way - contributing to this campaign will directly impact the life of my daughter and other LGBTQ+ kids in our community.

This fundraiser will help ensure this safe haven can continue to exist, and do the work of educating children in a safe and caring environment.

Thank you,

A Parent”

If you believe in building a world where LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent kids can learn in peace, where education means empowerment, and where love can still win — please give what you can.

Your support won’t just fund a school. It will protect a future.

Thank you. Thank you for believing in our kids.

With hope and gratitude,

A fellow parent and advocate

***No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this fundraiser.***