Enable Healing from Childhood Trauma

The number of people suffering from childhood trauma is staggering. The following data comes from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization:

157 million adults, 61% of all adults in the USA, have experienced some form of toxic childhood trauma. 42 million of those adults experienced chronic childhood trauma and will die 20 years early as a result. 41% of all depression in the USA is caused by childhood trauma. 5 of the top 10 causes of death come from health issues created by childhood trauma. I could go on and on.

This is more information provided than for the typical GoFundMe project. However, I must explain the complexity of what I am asking from you. I am confident you will find it undeniable.

My name is Michael Menard. I am the 2nd oldest of 14 children. We grew up in a 900 sq ft home, below the poverty level. My siblings and I experienced Complex Childhood Trauma. Some of us wobbled under the stress; others collapsed – I lost two brothers to drug addiction. I’m asking you to help me create a non-profit organization to address this crisis affecting 157 million adults in the USA alone and over 1 billion globally who are suffering from childhood trauma.

Childhood trauma includes neglect, shaming, physical, mental, and sexual abuse. It could be growing up in a home with violence or where one or both parents struggle with addictions. Without true healing from our past, relationships will suffer, marriages struggle, depression, anxiety and low esteem set in. Mental and physical health issues can lay dormant for years, even decades… and then the disorders erupt.

I have written a book about my siblings and my childhood. It’s titled, The Kite That Couldn’t Fly: and Other May Avenue Stories. It will be a memoir and a self-help book. In researching for my book, I found shocking information. There is now massive scientific findings proving that when a child experiences trauma, it changes everything. It changes the way the brain develops, and it changes their body chemistry. These changes continue through adulthood. The trauma fundamentally reorganizes the way mind and brain manages perception. It changes not only how we think and what we think about, but also our very capacity to think. When we are traumatized, we continue to organize our life as if the trauma was still going on – unchanged – as every new encounter is polluted by our past.

As you read this, there is a high probability you have been affected by childhood trauma. And if not, you know someone close to you who is suffering in ways small or large from childhood trauma.

Dr. Glenn Schiraldi, one of the authorities in the world on childhood trauma said: “Toxic childhood trauma may well be called the number-one unaddressed public health concern because of the devastation they leave in their wake.”

Your donations will enable the creation and the startup of The May Avenue Foundation. The Foundation will focus on three primary needs:

1. Raise awareness to the prevalence and destruction of childhood trauma. Letting every person affected know: “You are not alone.”

2. Provide free resources and therapy to anyone suffering from childhood trauma.

3. Prevent future childhood trauma by going upstream and healing parents, and then help teach parents how to parent.

This destruction comes from generational trauma. The pain passes from generation to generation until someone in the family stands up and says, “This will end with me.”

My book, The Kite That Couldn’t Fly, will serve as the spearhead of the Foundation, with the goal of raising awareness, as well as helping fund the Foundation. I have a very detailed plans; I have had a successful business career, including in advising the United Nations on resource allocation. I have the leadership and business skills to make this all happen. But I need help from you.

Your initial donations will fund the critical initial elements of getting this non-profit created and off the ground. My goal is raise $93,000 from GoFundMe. The funds from your donations will cover the cost of:

1. Getting the book Published and widely distributed: $15,000

2. 6 months of book marketing to drive the book to the best-seller list: $18,000

3. 6 months of Public Relations effort primarily focused on the media: $18,000

4. Build a highly commercial website to do the work of the Foundation: $5,000

5. Building and deploying a mobile app to be used to communicate with and get healing resources to sufferers: $5,000

6. To fund a high-profile, kick-off fundraiser in Nashville, TN to attract donors and music celebrities: $20,000

7. Build initial inventory of 1,000 books for giveaways and promotional events: $12,000

Once the Foundation has achieved initial success made possible by your donations, its fundraising will focus primarily on corporate donations from their philanthropy budgets. It is my goal to raise $100 million in the first three years.

100% of all donations will be used for funding the items above and providing awareness, services, and education to so many that are suffering from the effects of childhood trauma.

Your donations will support the beginning of a beautiful movement, and a contribution to all of humanity. It is possible! Please join with me.

Thank You,

Michael Menard

Founder and CEO, The May Avenue Foundation