My name is Samantha, and I am the CEO of AwA, a beloved clinic-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) service provider in Salem, Oregon. Our organization is deeply committed to delivering exceptional care and support to individuals and families, fostering a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment. We pride ourselves on being a neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-aware clinic, with an unwavering focus on client care.

Our Urgent Plea

We find ourselves at a critical juncture and urgently need your help. Science & Sensory LLC has encountered severe financial challenges over the past year, primarily due to our former CEO mismanaging funds. His tenure saw significant misuse of company resources, including extensive personal expenses charged to company accounts and questionable financial transfers, leaving us in a precarious financial state.

In May 2021, our CEO abruptly resigned, abandoning a complicated financial mess. To rectify this, we incurred substantial costs for auditors and attorneys, nearly as much as the $60,000 we now desperately need for back rent. Despite our best efforts to negotiate a payment plan since January of this year, our landlord has refused to negotiate and is demanding a payment of $60,000 to cover the back rent. Without this critical payment, we face imminent eviction.

Our Vision for a Stronger Future: Reorganizing into a Co-Op

At AwA, we believe in the power of community and shared responsibility. To better support our clients and ensure the sustainability of our services, we are planning to reorganize our business into a cooperative (co-op) model. This transformation will allow us to:

1. Empower Employees and Clients: By giving our employees and clients a stake in the business, we foster a sense of ownership and shared commitment to our mission.

2. Enhance Community Support: A co-op structure enables us to better align our services with the needs and priorities of our community, ensuring that we remain responsive and relevant.

3. Promote Financial Stability: Shared ownership helps distribute financial responsibility more equitably, reducing the risk of future financial mismanagement.

4. Foster Inclusive Decision-Making: Our co-op will prioritize inclusive decision-making processes, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are heard and valued.

This reorganization is part of our long-term strategy to create a resilient and community-focused organization that continues to provide essential services to those who need them most.

**Why Your Support Matters**

AwA stands as a beacon of hope and support for our community. As a neurodivergent-affirming and trauma-aware clinic, we prioritize client care, providing vital services that many families rely on. This $60,000 is crucial not only to pay the back rent but also to enable us to move forward with the payment plans we have meticulously worked out with our landlord. This up-front request is the sole barrier preventing us from continuing our mission and fulfilling our obligations.

**Our Goal**

We are seeking to raise **$60,000** to:

1. **Pay Back Rent**: Eliminate the immediate threat of eviction by settling the outstanding rent, allowing us to proceed with our agreed-upon payment plans

2.  Re-organize into a Co-Operative Business

**Join Us in Making a Profound Difference**

Your generous support, no matter the amount, will make an extraordinary impact on our ability to continue serving the community. Together, we can stabilize our operations and ensure that Science & Sensory LLC remains a pillar of support for those who need it most.

**Thank you for your unwavering generosity and support!**

Please share our campaign with your friends, family, and social networks to help us reach our goal. Together, we can make a lasting difference and ensure the continued success of Science & Sensory LLC.