The Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN) announced the public phase of its $1.5 million fundraising campaign on Wednesday to complete its Riverside campus.
It has already raised $1.3 million for its Safe Place campaign, said JASMYN CEO Cindy Watson. It is looking for community support to raise the remaining $200,000.
JASMYN is an organization that supports LGBTQ youth by providing resources on its three-building campus at Peninsular Place and Chelsea Street. Its campus houses a community center, health clinic and homeless youth center, Watson said.
The organization plans to use the money to build an outdoor classroom and entertainment space, add office space for mental health counselors and expand its health clinic to operate at three-times greater capacity.
Watson said the additions would help JASMYN further meet the needs of the 1,700 youth the organization serves each year.
“This community has come to understand that the young people who come to JASMYN have experienced rejection and challenges beyond their years,” she said.
Donations to the campaign can be made on the organization’s website.
Tristan Wood can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org or on Twitter at @TristanDWood.
