Honoring Jack’s Life
AspenOUT is deeply honored to rename our critical resource for therapy services– the Jack Raife Mental Health Fund.
This specialized fund provides essential, life-affirming mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth and adults across the Roaring Fork Valley and surrounding communities, solidifying our commitment to their well-being.
Notable impacts.
Contribute today.
On April 2, 2023, at the early age of 18, Jack Holden Raife, a native of the Roaring Fork Valley, took his life. Although stricken with grief, his mother, Kathy, along with close family members, forged boldly forward to raise awareness and provide opportunities for ten youths to gain access to intensive month-long inpatient health services by establishing the Jack Raife Fund with the assistance of AspenOUT.
Today, we are honored and proud to announce that our general mental health fund, which provided over 600 hours of outpatient 1:1 mental health therapy services over the last year, will permanently take on the name of the Jack Raife Mental Health Fund.
AspenOUT is actively refining and streamlining administrative and operational processes to maximize efficiency and ensure that every dollar is dedicated to client services. This fund will be managed and structured by local RFV therapists who are based in the community and have a solid understanding of LGBTQ+ challenges.
We are diligently evaluating the efficacy of current treatment plans and measuring client outcomes. This data-driven approach allows us to prioritize successful interventions, ensuring that all resource expansion is strategic, evidence-based, and focused on maximizing service capacity and impact.
AspenOUT invites you to contribute to this fund via your own personal funds or a corporate gift. Even the smallest amount helps our therapists make considerable strides in tackling mental health hurdles in rural areas.
Important data.
Our partnership with VODA, the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Journaling app, allowed us to collect anonymous data that gave a critical look into the needs of the Q+ community. Of the 100 participants surveyed:
%
expressed they are dealing with anxiety, depression, or stress
%
are currently seeking support for mental health challenges
%
do not currently have access to mental health resources or therapy
AspenOUT is respectfully requesting that you dig deep. No amount is too small. Give whatever you can.
Every dollar donated will go towards therapy sessions, providing those in need with a resource to life-saving mental health services. Save a young person’s life. Please help make a difference.
About AspenOUT
Established as the Aspen Gay and Lesbian Community Fund (AGLCF), the organization initially had only one staff member and a Board of Directors to help maximize charitable profits, with AGSW serving as a grassroots fundraiser. While the RFGLCF/AspenOUT is best known for producing Aspen Gay Ski Week, we strive to support the development of a strong local Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Transgender community with programs and initiatives including: The Art Base Partnership, The Collective Youth Events, Queer Sober Club, Affirming Voices, and more. We invite you to become a part of AspenOUT, whether as a visitor, part-time resident, or full-time local.
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
We are always looking for new volunteers, future board members, and more. Let us know how you’d like to be involved with AspenOUT.