Why I Support RIA, Inc.
RIA is a one-of-a-kind organization with an unwavering vision.
A world where people’s bodies are not victimized, exploited, bought, or sold for the sexual gratification of another.
I believe this shouldn’t be a lofty vision—it should be the bare minimum we expect from a just society. But for far too many women and girls, that’s not their reality. They are exploited, stigmatized, and far too often ignored or vilified—when what they need is to be seen, heard, and supported.
"What About Consenting Adults” and “Why Don’t These Women Just Leave”?
I know some people wonder: Why does it matter if it's between two consenting adults? The reality is far more complex.
True consent requires real choices.
And RIA’s own data shows us just how few choices many survivors have had.
Among the people RIA serves:
- 85% report one or more mental, physical, or cognitive disabilities
- 74% experienced homelessness
- 52% were first exploited as children
- 95% have experienced sexual assault
- 98% have experienced physical assault
- 85% have a history of domestic and/or family violence
These numbers are difficult to read. But they tell an important story.
The sex industry preys on vulnerability.
And leaving exploitation isn't simply a matter of walking away. When someone doesn't have safe housing, financial security, a support system, or even a safe place to sleep, “choice” can mean choosing between one dangerous situation and another.
That’s Why RIA Matters.
RIA is women-led and survivor-informed, meeting people where they are and walking alongside them for as long as they need.
In 2025 alone, RIA supported 123 survivors through more than 7,300 individual care encounters—providing peer mentorship, clinical therapy, housing support, financial assistance, advocacy, and help meeting basic needs.
And that support is changing lives.
By year-end:
- 82% of RIA participants were independently housed
- 89% had distance from the sex trade
- Participants were finding jobs, going back to school, reconnecting with their children, and building lives defined not by exploitation, but by their own goals and choices.
“Because of RIA, I am not just getting by. I am in school, I am housed, I am supported, and I am building a future that feels safe and intentional.”
Please support my goal of $10,000 for RIA.
I want more women to have real choices.
A safe place to live. Someone to call. Access to therapy. Help getting an education or a job. The financial breathing room to choose a different path—and people who will continue walking beside them as they build it.
Will you consider making a gift today to help make RIA’s vision a reality for more women?
Thank you for standing with me—and with RIA.
Val :)
