Why Free?
Because you deserve it!
FreeFest has always been about giving back. For the past three years, we’ve wanted to lighten things up in the face of a rough economy while drawing more attention to youth homelessness. And thanks to you we raised nearly $600,000, generated more than 75,000 hours of volunteer time and created over 25,000 outreach kits.
2011 Festival donations built the Virgin Mobile RE*Generation House, a homeless youth shelter in Washington, DC. Developed in partnership with Sasha Bruce Youthwork, a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to transforming the lives of young people, the addition of the new “RE*Generation House” continues the history of their tireless work of the past 30 years.
We’ll take care of the tickets.
You take care of the karma.
Since we’re picking up the cost of the tickets, we’re asking each person who attends the Festival to donate a minimum of $10 to The RE*Generation, Virgin Mobile’s initiative to address youth homelessness. Your donations will go towards opening the doors of a fully operational RE*Generation House, providing a community of homeless youth with access to not just housing but programming around social entrepreneurship and urban agriculture. All donations will be collected and presented by Virgin Unite, the philanthropic arm of Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.
OUR CAUSE
The RE*Generation…
A generation helping its own
Over two million youth (between the ages of 12 and 24) will experience at least one episode of homelessness each year and over 100,000 youth sleep on the street for 6 months or more in America. The vast majority of homeless, street-dependent youth will experience amplified risk of exposure to physical assault, rape, sexual exploitation, recruitment into gangs, and deepening mental health illnesses. Homeless kids have different needs than homeless adults – they haven’t even had a chance to live their lives yet.
The RE*Generation is our effort to empower a generation to help its own. We’re bringing together organizations that care about homeless youth and connecting them with young people who want to help.
Here’s How You Can Help:
DONATE NOW
Homeless youth need your help
now more than ever.
The number of kids sleeping on the streets is on the rise. And with most folks worried about their own financial needs right now, donations are down and shelters are closing.
That’s why your donation would be so important. Virgin Mobile is working with Sasha Bruce to open the doors on a newly built RE*Generation House, a transitional living center in Washington D.C. We’ve built the house. Your donations will open the doors by providing support for programming and staffing. Join us in transforming the lives of youth in need.
Make a direct donation with your credit or debit card by clicking the link below. All donations will go to projects that benefit outreach and shelter services.
CHARITABLE PARTNERS
Virgin Unite
Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, is key to The RE*Generation. Virgin Unite coordinates the efforts across the Virgin Group of companies and our non-profit partners to maximize impact across the globe. All donations made online or via Txt2Donate will be collected by Virgin Unite. Donations will be applied towards street outreach and transitional living programs managed by The RE*Generation partner beneficiaries: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Green Chimneys, HELP USA, StandUp For Kids and Sasha Bruce Youthwork.
Visit the website
Sasha Bruce Youthwork
A young person who needs a place to stay – for any reason – can find a home at the Sasha Bruce House. The staff at Bruce House also provides counseling and classes that can lead young people in need back to a more stable and supportive family situation, or on a path to true independence and self-sufficiency. DC’s only short-term shelter for young people, the Bruce House is open 24 hours a day, serving roughly 200 youth, ages 11-17, each year.
Visit the website
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