Rita's Respite - Charity for Hope

My best friend died unexpectedly just after her 50th birthday. She was an amazing friend and spent her life helping others. Rita Augusta raised tens of thousands of dollars during her 20 years in Southern California for a variety of charities, including heart disease, foster children, homeless services, and more.

What I want to do now is create a charity called "Rita's Respite" - a place where women can go when life doesn't seem to make sense anymore. For those facing cancer, as she did. For those who've lost family members to suicide, like she did. Not everyone can afford to have a weekend "spa day".. but there are women who are facing cancer, overwhelmed with work and child-rearing duties, who haven't had a chance to come up for air - in what seems like years.

What I envision is a place where a team is deployed - someone to take care of the children, psychologists who can listen, registered nurses, massage therapists, you get the idea. We can all give a little to make another human feel "whole" again.

Today, I implore your compassion to honor a woman who is a reflection of so many of us in America today. Rita was petite, but larger than life. This single mom raised a child without one penny of help from the father.

She gave when she had, she gave even more when she didn't.

Rita's Respite will be a safe space for women who are overwhelmed, stressed to the hilt and who just need a short weekend away from life. For those who need just a small "reset." I want to create a non-profit to help those everyday heroes who are otherwise lost in our system.

Sincerely,

Karen E. Carlson