Dear Fearless! Community,

As we welcome the arrival of spring, Fearless! continues to grow, adapt, and advocate for the communities we serve across Orange and Sullivan Counties. March was a month of action, reflection, and powerful moments of youth-led leadership. But with that momentum comes a sobering reality: we are facing the potential loss of critical federal and state funding that supports our life-saving work. Now, more than ever, we need our community to stand Fearless! with us.

On March 20th, we hosted our Love Shouldn’t Hurt Youth Summit, bringing together 114 high school students and 23 adults from across Orange and Sullivan Counties to build knowledge, raise awareness, and take action on issues impacting their communities. Through interactive workshops and peer-led discussions, participants explored topics including; healthy relationships, consent, oppression, human trafficking, media literacy, and bystander intervention.

Some things our staff and students shared they learned:

• “Maybe” is not consent.
• Clothing is subjective—ask before touching anyone.
• Reckless driving can be a form of physical abuse.
• How to respond when a student opens up about abuse or violence.

Our youth are not just the future, they're leading the charge now. Fearless! is honored to walk alongside these young advocates, fostering safe and inclusive spaces for growth, leadership, and change. A huge thank you to our facilitators, volunteers, and supporters who made this summit a success!

This past month, we received alarming news: the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued mass job cuts, known as Reductions in Force (RIF), that directly threaten our nation’s response to domestic and sexual violence.

Key programs have been severely impacted:

• The CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention, which oversees the DELTA and Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) programs, lost critical staff and capacity.
• The Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services (OFVPS), which administers FVPSA grants and American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, has been disrupted.
•  The director of the OFVPS was placed on administrative leave, creating further uncertainty in federal support for domestic violence programs.

These cuts interrupt the essential work of organizations like Fearless! and threaten decades of progress in preventing violence, supporting survivors, and building safer communities.

At the same time, we are facing shrinking VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) funding and delays in the New York State budget. These added federal reductions could leave victim service providers across the country, including Fearless!, without the resources we rely on to operate shelters, offer legal advocacy, run prevention education, and ensure survivors can find safety and healing.

Tell Congress: Survivors Deserve Better

Your voice matters. Now more than ever, we need you to stand with survivors. Visit our website to learn how to contact your representatives and access a sample email script. Together, we can fight to protect the life-saving services survivors depend on every day.

Survivors are counting on us. We're counting on you.

Thank you for your continued support in Reclaiming Our Safety. Together, we can create a future where love is safe, survivors are supported, and advocacy leads to lasting change.

 Hudson Valley Gives | May 21, 2025

Hudson Valley Gives is a 24-hour online giving event that unites hundreds of charities across 7 counties in one powerful movement: Give Where You Live!

Created by the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS), Hudson Valley Gives offers nonprofit organizations in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and Westchester Counties a platform to connect with online donors and raise essential funds for their missions.

This year marks Fearless!’s 10th year participating! Over the past nine years, we've raised $24,955 through 288 donations to support survivors, prevention education, legal advocacy, and more. Every gift makes a difference, and this year, we’re aiming for our best campaign yet!

Help us build momentum by becoming a peer fundraiser today!

Only donations made on May 21st are eligible to count toward prize opportunities through HV Gives

 Ladies Night Out | May 30, 2025

Join us for the 3rd Annual Ladies Night Out, a celebration for women, by women,  to benefit Fearless! Hudson Valley. Curated by Deb Buonsignor of Wanderlust Boutique, this fun-filled evening offers a perfect mix of beauty, wellness, and retail therapy with over 20 women-owned vendors. Enjoy music and dancing with DJ Victor Vargas, shopping, a cash bar, dinner, and a fabulous tricky tray.

Tickets are $75 and include a full meal and 10 tricky tray tickets. A portion of all ticket and vendor sales will be donated to Fearless! to support our mission to end violence and empower survivors in the Hudson Valley.

Reserve Your Spot Today

When emailing the venue for tickets, be sure to include your name and phone number.