About

Our Story

Phoenix Rising Foundation was founded on a simple conviction: survivors deserve more than survival — they deserve a path forward.

Built from lived experience and lasting purpose.

Phoenix Rising Foundation — Our Story

Phoenix Rising Foundation was created from a deeply personal experience. When someone you love becomes a survivor of sexual abuse, everything changes. The world feels different. Safety feels uncertain. And the path forward is often unclear.

We quickly learned something that many families discover too late — while there are systems in place for accountability, there are very few resources designed to truly support healing. Therapy is expensive. Safe housing isn't always available. Daily life — school, work, relationships — can feel overwhelming or impossible to navigate.

Healing is not a moment. It's a long process and it requires support. Phoenix Rising Foundation was created to bridge that gap. We exist to provide survivors with access to the resources they need not just to survive — but to rebuild, regain stability, and move forward with strength.

This is more than a foundation; it's a commitment to making sure no survivor has to navigate recovery alone.

"This foundation was built from the hardest experiences my family has ever faced. I saw firsthand how much survivors need — not just to get through what happened, but to truly heal and rebuild. It is still a work in progress for us. Phoenix Rising Foundation exists to make sure no one has to walk that path alone. Survival is not the end of the story. With the right support, it's the beginning of something stronger. This foundation exists to help survivors rise, rebuild, and move forward with strength."
Amie Lawson, Founder
Amie Lawson
Phoenix Rising Foundation

Our Mission

To provide survivors of sexual assault and abuse with access to critical recovery resources, including therapy, housing support, job training, and advocacy services.

Our Vision

A world where every survivor has the support, safety, and opportunity to rebuild their life with strength and dignity.

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Dignity

Every person who comes to us deserves to be treated with full respect and compassion, without judgment.

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Confidentiality

We protect the privacy of every survivor we serve. Safety begins with trust, and trust begins with discretion.

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Empowerment

We walk alongside survivors, not in front of them. Our programs are tools — the path is theirs to choose.

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Sustainability

We invest in long-term recovery, not just immediate relief — building foundations that last.

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Accessibility

No survivor should be turned away due to income, location, language, or circumstance. We remove barriers.

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Transparency

We are accountable to our donors, our community, and the survivors we serve — with open books and honest reporting.

Board of Directors

Our board brings together expertise in nonprofit leadership, healthcare, law, social work, and community advocacy — all united by a shared commitment to survivor wellbeing.

Amie Lawson
Amie Lawson
Board Chair

Founder of Phoenix Rising Foundation and a dedicated advocate for survivors of sexual abuse. Driven by personal experience and a commitment to ensuring no survivor walks the path to recovery alone.

Vice Chair
Board Member Name
Vice Chair

Licensed clinical social worker specializing in trauma-informed care and survivor advocacy.

Harry Russell
Harry Russell
Treasurer

CPA with extensive nonprofit financial management experience and a background in charitable compliance.

Katherine Schull
Katherine Schull
Secretary

Attorney focused on family law and survivor legal protections, with decades of pro bono advocacy.

Board Member
Board Member Name
Board Member

Healthcare executive with expertise in trauma medicine and community health systems.

Board Member
Board Member Name
Board Member

Community organizer and survivor advocate with deep ties to underserved populations across the region.

Why the Phoenix?

In ancient mythology, the phoenix is a creature that rises from its own ashes — stronger, renewed, and radiant.

We chose this symbol because it speaks to what we witness every day: the extraordinary resilience of survivors who, despite unimaginable hardship, find the strength to rise. Rising is not easy. But it is possible — and no one has to rise alone.