Fundraise for Freedom

Any event, big or small, can make a difference in your community.

Support Thrive New England by hosting a fundraiser!

Get resources and ideas below to have a great Thrive event that makes a difference.

Thank you!

Your event will help support Thrive's mission to prevent child exploitation and serve those who have experienced or been affected by commercial sexual violence with personalized, trauma-informed training and care.

Give what you raised:

Thrive New England is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Make a One-Time Donation

Become a Monthly Donor

Thank you!

Need Event Ideas or Resources?

Looking for Event Ideas?

There are lots of fun ways to raise awareness and support Thrive! Pick from the list below or brainstorm your own theme.

Garage Sale

Show the Film "Priceless"

Benefit Dinner

Silent Auction

Gaming Marathon

Online Crowdfunding

Trivia Night

Date Night Raffle

Scavenger Hunt

Cooking Competition

Dance Marathon

Cornhole Competition

Sports Tournament

Food or Wine Tasting

5K Fun Run

Facebook Campaign

Need Images?

Save and use these images to invite your guest or promote your event. These can also be printed if you would like handouts or signage!

Download

20230509 Multiple Photo Collage Free Instagram Post.png

Download

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Not sure what to say about Thrive in your invitation? Here's a suggestion:

"Join us as we partner with Thrive New England to #endtrafficking at [event name and date]! @ThriveNE is a Maine-based nonprofit that offers programs to prevent child exploitation and serve those who have already experienced or been affected by commercial sexual violence. If you aren't able to make it, please consider making a donation to Thrive New England's programs at thrivenewengland.org/give."

Need a Video?

Download and show this short video about Thrive New England at your event. You can also stream directly from the website:

Full Screen Video

Taking Donations:

Invite your guests to become monthly or one-time donors to Thrive New England at thrivenewengland.org/give. You can also print or share the QR code below. Be sure to thank them on our behalf!

Download

Thank you!

Your event will help support Thrive's mission to prevent child exploitation and serve those who have experienced or been affected by commercial sexual violence with personalized, trauma-informed training and care.

Want to do more? Consider becoming a regular donor.

Become a Monthly Donor

Thrive New England is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Take Action

Make a Referral

Give

Connect

info@thrivenewengland.org

When 15-year-old Carly was referred to Thrive, she was caught in risky online relationships that left her feeling ashamed, hurt, and searching for real connection.

Through Thrive’s prevention education, she learned how to stay safe online — but it wasn’t easy. With continued mentorship, Carly began to understand something powerful: she had the choice to shape her future.

Her mentor helped her see that her value wasn’t defined by others online, but by the love and respect she had for herself.

And Carly chose differently.
She started deleting and blocking unsafe contacts, building healthy friendships, and reconnecting with people who truly cared.

Today, Carly is safe, confident, and free from risky online behavior. She knows her worth — and she’s thriving.

#ThriveStories #PreventionMatters #EmpowerTeens #OnlineSafety #ChooseYou #MentorshipHeals

Today we are grateful for all of you who support us through your advocacy, financial support, and encouragement.
What are you grateful for?
#thrivenewengland #endexploitation #gratitude

MONTHLY MILESTONES
We are thrilled to celebrate a massive turning point with one of our teen clients! For months, trust was built slowly through games and a consistent, safe connection. The true shift came this past month when the teen was invited to a crucial team meeting and watched their mentor fiercely advocate on their behalf. The mentor encouraged them to actively inform and shape their own care plan and future path. Witnessing that commitment earned complete buy-in. Now fully engaged, this teen is diving deep into the Thrive Healing Journal, accepting the hard truth that they're responsible for their own future. This acceptance is the key to unlocking their potential. Congratulations to our client on bravely taking ownership of their future!

#thrivenewengland #EndExploitation #DigitalSafety

The Thrive team is practicing gratitude this month. What are you grateful for?

#THRIVENewEngland #Gratitude #EndExploitation

Gratitude really can change everything.

When we take a moment to notice what we’re thankful for — big or small — our brains actually start to rewire for more joy and peace.

Research shows that practicing gratitude can boost happiness, lower stress, help us sleep better, and even strengthen our relationships.

What are you grateful for today?

#thrivenewengland #gratitude

Sure, our work is serious business, but that doesn't mean WE always have to be!

#thrivenewengland

When sending a risky pic becomes the ‘norm’ among friends, it’s not just hormone-driven experimentation — it’s a doorway to exploitation.

1 in 3 minors report having an online sexual interaction; 1 in 5 believe sharing nudes is just what people their age do. (Thorn)

We need to stop the idea that ‘everyone’s doing it’ makes it safe. It doesn’t. Let’s talk — honestly, early, and without shame — about what digital intimacy really means.

#thrivenewengland #endexploitation #OnlineSafety #onlinesafety

Last year, my 12-year-old daughter came home from school and shared that one of her friends had several “boyfriends” online who were asking her for pictures. Because we talk about online safety at home, my daughter recognized this as risky behavior and told me right away. We were able to notify the school so they could step in.

While she wasn’t directly targeted, my daughter still experienced the ripple effects of online exploitation — and because she was informed and empowered, she became a resource for her peers instead of a victim.

This is why prevention matters. When we equip young people with awareness, language, and trusted adults to turn to, we reduce harm before it starts. Education, open conversations, and early intervention truly save lives.

At Thrive, we believe prevention is not just protection — it’s empowerment.

#thrivenewengland #preventionmatters #flashpoint

This month, we’re celebrating one of our survivors who recently moved into a new apartment — and into a community where she feels supported and connected.

After years of battling isolation and loneliness, she has found a place where she belongs. This sense of connection has reduced her anxiety, strengthened her independence, and even lessened her need for services from Thrive.

It’s a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation.
Community — real, caring, consistent community — is what allows survivors to rebuild, grow, and thrive.

#thrivenewengland

This incredible survivor has been working with Thrive for over two years. When she first came to us, she was in crisis and still being trafficked — but today, she’s living independently and getting ready to graduate from our program!

Recently, she shared that while exploring a potential dating relationship, she recognized red flags and exploitative behaviors early on — and chose to walk away.

That decision might seem simple, but for someone who has experienced trafficking, it’s a huge milestone. It shows just how far she’s come in reclaiming her power, trusting her instincts, and building a life defined by safety and self-worth.

We’re so proud of her journey — and grateful to everyone who helps make moments like this possible.

#EmpowerSurvivors #ThriveNewEngland #HealingJourney #SurvivorStrength #EndExploitation

Thrive’s Board Retreat the last weekend in September was a meaningful time of planning, strategizing, and connecting as we looked ahead to the next season of impact. It was a great reminder of how the shared mission and support of this team continues to motivate and encourage us forward in this difficult work. We came away refreshed, focused and excited for the year ahead.
#thrivenewengland

5 Tips Kids Should Know When Going Online

1️⃣ Think before you post – Once it’s online, it’s hard to take back. Keep personal info private.

2️⃣ Know who you’re talking to – Don’t accept friend requests or messages from people you don’t know in real life.

3️⃣ Check privacy settings – Lock down your accounts so only trusted friends can see your posts.

4️⃣ Be cautious with links – Don’t click on links or download files from people you don’t know.

5️⃣ Tell someone you trust – If something online makes you uncomfortable, talk to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult.

Staying safe online isn’t about fear—it’s about protecting yourself.

Generative AI is everywhere—from funny pet videos to dream vacation homes. But it’s also being misused in alarming ways.

Abusers are taking innocent photos of kids from social media, manipulating them into harmful content, and using it for blackmail. Since 2023, reports of AI-generated exploitation to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children have skyrocketed 1,325%.

At Thrive, we’re working to stop this. Our prevention programs help teens recognize grooming, protect themselves online, and build healthy, safe relationships.

Want Thrive to bring this program to your school or youth group? Email us at info@thrivenewengland.org.

What is CSAM?
Child Sexual Abuse Material = images/videos of child exploitation. It’s abuse, not “content.”

What can we do?
-Talk to kids about online safety & sextortion.
-Report suspicious content to NCMEC CyberTipline
-Call your senators & support the STOP CSAM Act
-Stand with survivors.

Together, we can take small steps to make big impact.

📚✨ School is back in session, which makes now the perfect time to have conversations with your student about staying safe online.

Open communication is key—when kids feel heard and have ownership in the conversation, they’re more likely to follow through on setting and keeping healthy boundaries. 💬💻

Take a few minutes this week to talk with your student about how they connect online, and remind them that you’re always there if something doesn’t feel right.

Together, we can help them build safe and confident online habits.

Community matters to everyone—but for survivors of trafficking, it can mean the difference between moving forward in freedom or being pulled back into exploitation.

At Thrive, we know that isolation is one of the greatest risks survivors face. That’s why we focus on helping them build healthy, supportive connections through mentorship, peer groups, and community partnerships.

When survivors find belonging, they also find stability, encouragement, and hope for the future. 💙

Together, we can create communities where survivors are not just safe, but truly thrive.

Andrew Warner is Thrive's newest board member. He is the Director of Overdose Prevention in the City of Manchester. He has been doing street outreach for ten years where he has worked with many trafficked individuals. This is his "Why I Thrive".

"By all these lovely tokes of September days are here. With summer's best of weather and autumn's best of cheer." Helen Hunt Jackson
Fall is such an amazing season and September is already putting on a lovely show. What is your favorite part of September?

1 in 5 kids in New England have been targeted online for sextortion.

At Thrive New England, we’re making sure kids know what to do when it happens. Our Youth Prevention Program teaches teens how to recognize grooming, sextortion, and trafficking—and how to report it.

Every child deserves to feel safe online.

#ThriveNewEngland #Prevention #StopSextortion #ProtectKids

When a problem is big, it feels like it takes a big solution to fix it, and the pervasive problem of sexual exploitation and trafficking is a huge problem.
But big and even huge problems don't usually get solved with big solutions. Usually, the solution comes by finding small, manageable actions that work together with other small, manageable actions to make a big difference.

Two of Thrive's Board Members have started small and made a big impact:

Elisa @elisabjohnson challenged her online followers to donate monthly in celebration of her 30th birthday, and now Thrive has 7 new Monthly Donors.

Mariah @mariahlarocque @missrevolutionaryworld is using her love of running to raise money for Thrive's programs and has raised $725!

You can start small too!
✨ Give monthly—steady support means steady care for survivors.
✨ Share our mission—spread the word on social media or with friends.
✨ Volunteer your time or skills—we can’t do this work without community.
✨ Learn & advocate—educate yourself on trafficking and speak up to raise awareness.

How are you going to start small?

Prevention is the key to ending trafficking. At Thrive, it’s woven into everything we do—from teaching teens how to spot grooming and report exploitation, to walking alongside survivors so they don’t get pulled back into the cycle.

The reality is heartbreaking: studies show up to 80% of trafficked women return to their abusers. That’s why our prevention work matters so much.

You can be part of the solution:
✨ Talk with the teens in your life about healthy relationships
✨ Share this post to spread awareness
✨ Partner with us by supporting Thrive’s prevention programs

Together, we can stop trafficking before it starts. 💛

HOW WILL YOU USE YOUR FREEDOM TO GIVE FREEDOM?
Thanks to our new monthly donors who joined through our Fundraise for Freedom campaign, more survivors are walking toward safety, independence, and hope.

Monthly giving means more than keeping the lights on—it means long-term, life-changing mentorship, care, and opportunities for survivors of trafficking.

We’re at a turning point. As needs grow and funding shrinks, your partnership ensures we can hire the staff and expand the programs survivors urgently need.

It doesn’t have to be big—run a race, host a cornhole game, sell lemonade, share our story. Your passion fuels someone’s freedom.

Let’s use our freedom to give freedom.

#thrivenewengland #fundraiseforfreedom #EndTrafficking

The Office on Trafficking in Persons—created 25 years ago with bipartisan support—is facing devastating cuts, with reports of up to 71% of staff positions eliminated.

This office has been a lifeline for countless survivors. These cuts don’t just reduce federal support—they shift even more pressure onto small, grassroots organizations like Thrive to fill the gaps.

Survivors deserve more, not less. Here’s how you can help:
🔹 Learn the signs of trafficking and exploitation
🔹 Support grassroots orgs like @ThriveNewEngland
🔹 Contact your representatives—urge them to protect anti-trafficking funding
🔹 Share this post to spread awareness
🔹 Give monthly to keep vital support consistent

#EndTrafficking #ThriveNewEngland

Everyone has a role to play in ending sexual exploitation and trafficking.

You don’t have to be an expert—you just have to care.
🔹 Learn the signs
🔹 Support survivor-led organizations
🔹 Have open conversations with kids and teens
🔹 Use your voice to advocate for change
🔹 Give, volunteer, or share

Together, we can make a difference!

We talk a lot about Sextortion because we are so passionate about keeping our kids safe. 81% of all Sextortion happens online and almost 40% of all kids from age 9-17 have been approached online by someone wanting to take advantage of them.

We are trying to end the cycle of exploitation and trafficking by creating relevant and accessible prevention education to help teens spot online and in-person exploitation and know how to report it.
We can't always be there to prevent them from risky situations, but we can empower them to protect themselves.

Find out more at our website.

🌍 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
Today, we pause to shine a light on the millions of lives impacted by human trafficking around the world — including right here in our own communities.

This year’s theme reminds us that every survivor deserves dignity, support, and the chance to heal. At Thrive New England, we walk alongside survivors on their journey toward true freedom — offering housing, advocacy, trauma-informed care, and the unwavering belief that recovery is possible.

🟦 Trafficking hides in plain sight.
🟪 Survivors deserve more than awareness — they deserve action.
🟧 Together, we can break the cycle.

Often times we equaite a survivor's escape as freedom. But that is not the truth. Our Program Director, Brynn Bowyer, has a few words to say about the disparity of freedom for survivors.

What is freedom?
For a survivor of sexual exploitation or trafficking, freedom isn't just physical escape — it's the ability to live without fear, shame, or control from others. It's reclaiming the right to make choices, feel safe in your own body, and be seen as more than what was done to you.

Barriers to freedom can include trauma, lack of safe housing, limited access to resources, stigma, ongoing threats or manipulation, and systems that often fall short in supporting long-term healing.

True freedom means stable housing, a supportive community, access to trauma-informed care and essential resources, and — most importantly — the power of choice. It’s the opportunity to rebuild a life with safety, dignity, and hope.

Thrive New England walks alongside survivors on this journey, offering consistent, compassionate support and practical tools for healing. We’re committed to meeting survivors where they are, helping them take each step toward lasting freedom — not alone, but surrounded by people who believe in their worth and potential.

There are so many ways you can support anti-trafficking work that don't cost you a penny! Share a post, tag a friend, have a conversation in a grocery aisle. All these small acts come together to make a big impact!

#conversationsmatter #showingupmatters #thrivenewengland

As a Board Member, @elisabjohnson is passionate about the work Thrive does and so she has committed to use her network for good by participating in our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. She is challenging her online and in-person community to help her reach her goal of 30 new monthly donors by her 30th birthday at the beginning of August! We can't wait to share her results with you in August.
You can participate in our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign, too! Find something you love to end what you hate; that can be raising awareness and funds at your gardening club or other social group, by doing an online fundraising campaign like Elisa, challenging your friends to a cornhole competition, or just talking about the work we do at a summer barbeque and asking friends and family to donate.
It doesn't have to be big or elaborate—just passionate people working together. We'll provide all the materials you need to share our story. Join our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. Use your passions to make a difference:

Host a fundraising challenge or an event
Share awareness materials
Donate proceeded

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

"How will I use my freedom to give freedom?"

So many of you have made a choice to support Thrive's work giving freedom and a future to our survivors, through vital, comprehensive, life-changing mentorship and care.

However, we're at a crossroads. As needs and referrals increase, we urgently need to hire more staff. This comes at a time when non-profit funding is shrinking, putting more pressure on organizations like ours.

Simply put, we need you more than ever!

We're asking you to Fundraise for Freedom. Whether you love running like our board member Mariah, who is challenging friends to support each of her miles, or you're organizing a pickleball tournament or planning a yard sale to benefit our mission, every effort impacts the life of a survivor. Consider hosting a neighborhood cornhole tournament, a family barbecue, or simply gathering friends to share Thrive's mission.

It doesn't have to be big or elaborate—just passionate people working together. We'll provide all the materials you need to share our story. Join our Fundraise for Freedom Campaign. Use your passions to make a difference:

Host a fundraising challenge or an event
Share awareness materials
Donate proceeds

Let's use our freedom to give freedom!

Email us for more information at info@thrivenewengland.org.

At Thrive New England, freedom means more than just escaping trafficking. Freedom means physical, mental, emotional, and relational health. Our intense mentorship and wrap-around care help survivors grasp hold to the freedom they have been denied through exploitation and trafficking. Learn more at www.thrivenewengland.org

This month, we are celebrating freedom and talking about how we can Use our Freedom to Give Them Theirs. What does freedom mean to you?

Summer is here and with it, barbeques, pool dates, and vacations. But it's not a day at the beach for everyone. For survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking , change of seasons can cause past trauma to resurface. Thrive is there to support them through all these challenging seasons. Learn more at www.thrivenewengland.org

Thrive's Restorative Care Program for teens and Survivor Leadership Program for adults provides purposeful, wrap-around care and mentorship for individuals who have experienced sexual exploitation and trafficking here in New England. Our unique method of supporting survivors is effective and 92% of our graduates are living free and independently.
www.thrivenewengland.org

It's the first day of SUMMER and we are so happy it is here! What is your favorite part about summer?

We'll go first! Beach days!

www.thrivenewengland.org

NOW. Exploitation is happening right now to kids and teens here in New England. The new statistics say that 40% of all 9-17 have been approached online with an intent of exploitation.
Thrive is passionate about equipping kids to protect themselves online and in-person, which is why we designed our own prevention programs for New England youth. Our program educates kids and teens how to spot potentially exploitative situations online and in-person and how to report it.
For more information on how you can get Thrive's Prevention Program in your school, youth group, or youth program, email us at info@curtislake.org.
www.thrivenewengland.org

Are you passionate about the kids in your life? So are we! That is why we created a prevention program to equip youth with the information and tools to keep them safe online and in person, equipping them to spot potentially risky interactions and how to report them.
For more information on how you can get this program into your school, youth organization or youth group, you can go to our website or email us at info@thrivenewengland.org

This Father’s Day, we’re celebrating the one-of-a-kind impact dads have on their kids’ lives. Whether it’s cheering from the sidelines, offering quiet support, or showing up day after day, a father’s presence gives kids the kind of steady foundation they carry forever. Dads help their children grow into strong, kind, and grounded people�—and that influence sticks. So, here’s to all the fathers and father figures out there—your love, guidance, and example mean more than words can say.

Together we can make a difference in our local communities! Check out our website and see how you can get involved.
www.thrivenewengland.org

BTW, have you checked out the article written about Thrive? Check out "Coffee and Courage at the Ground-Level of Community Care" by Steve Bargdill.

https://open.substack.com/pub/stevebargdill/p/coffee-and-courage-at-the-ground?r=5t1qrg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Do you want to be a part of something that TRUELY changes lives? When you give to Thrive, you directly impact the lives of teens and adults in our local communities through prevention education for teens and wrap-around care programs for survivors of sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Consider giving monthly to make your IMPACT go further.

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

We are so excited to celebrate two of our Restorative Care Program teens graduating high school. These amazing young people have overcome trauma, are creating healthy boundaries in relationships, navigating new seasons of life, and working toward bright futures.

Your support for Thrive New England enables our teens to reach these incredible milestones.

Congratulations to our Graduates!! We are excited to cheer you on in the next chapter of your lives!

www.thrivenewengland.org/give

#pompandcircumstance #2025grads #THRIVENewEngland

Last night's event at The Aplomb Project was a huge success! Thank you to the many people who came out to support both exhibits. If you didn't have a chance to make it but still would love to check it out, Danielle Festa Keefe will be at the gallery TOMORROW, June 7, 2-4, 15 Mechanic St, Dover, NH.
PLUS, other rumblings are in the works for this exhibit, so stayed tuned next week for more updates!
www.thrivenewengland.org/intheirshoes

We'll see you tonight at The Aplomb Gallery, 15 Mechanic St, Dover, NH from 5-8!
www.thrivenewengland.org/intheirshoes

TONIGHT! Zoom with us! This is a chance to get to know more about Thrive and ask any questions you have about our mission and programs. We'll see you TONIGHT, 7 pm EST.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81023990451?pwd=jaecQKhucy6fS4aUMOLskeyhS42HlH.1
PASSCODE: 644134

This is what people are saying about Thrive's "In Their Shoes" exhibit. You can experience this "profound message of resilience and hope" Thursday, June 5 at The Aplomb Project in Dover, NH. For more information go to www.thrivenewengland.org/intheirshoes

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