From One Phone Line to a Lifeline for Thousands: Why Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
- Project Sister Team
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
More than 50 years ago, three young women sat cross-legged in a dorm room at the Claremont Colleges, furious at how survivors of rape were being treated. One of them was Paola Hoch, herself a survivor. She remembers how the three of them grew “angrier and angrier” as they talked—because survivors deserved better. Because something had to change.
That moment became the spark that created Project S.I.S.T.E.R. A phone line on a campus. A stack of handmade flyers. Volunteers who showed up simply because someone had to.
Today, that spark has grown into Project Sister Family Services (PSFS)—the state-designated sexual assault crisis center for Eastern Los Angeles County and Western San Bernardino County. And through every chapter of our history, one thing has remained non-negotiable:
When someone reaches out in their darkest moment, we show up.
A New Home, A Stronger Lifeline
This year, we settled into our new home on Royalty Drive—a space intentionally designed to reflect the care, dignity, and professionalism every survivor deserves. It is a symbol of where we’ve been and where we’re going: expanding counseling services, deepening community partnerships, and reaching more youth with the tools to stay safe.
But what happens inside these walls is only possible because of supporters like you.
The Need Is Growing—and So Is Our Response
Survivors are reaching out at higher rates. Cases are more complex. Children and families need more counseling. Schools and youth programs are asking for expanded prevention education. As the only agency providing these services in our region, we must be ready.
Here’s what your generosity made possible this past year:
676 survivors received immediate crisis support through our 24/7 hotline.
269 individuals—many of them children—accessed trauma-informed therapy.
150 survivors were accompanied by trained advocates at hospitals, forensic exams, law enforcement interviews, and court.
3,000+ youth and adults learned about consent, safety, and healthy relationships.
97% of survivors supported during exams reported reduced stress.
98% of teens gained essential knowledge to keep themselves safe.
These numbers are more than statistics—they’re moments of safety, healing, and empowerment.
“Even the smallest amount matters.” —Paola Hoch
Paola said it best:
Even the smallest amount matters—dollars turn into lots of dollars.We need generous donors to keep the lights on, keep the phones answered, and keep showing up for victims so they can become survivors.— Paola Hoch, Founding Member & Survivor
Every gift fuels the work that happens in the moments people rarely see:The advocate answering the phone at 2 a.m.The child beginning therapy without being forced to wait months.The survivor taking a deep breath in a hospital room because someone is finally there for them.
Why Your Gift Matters Right Now
Your support ensures:
The 24/7 crisis hotline is always answered by a trained advocate.
Children begin therapy without delays, no matter how full the calendar gets.
Advocates arrive at hospitals within minutes when survivors need them most.
Prevention programs reach classrooms, campuses, and families across our region.
No survivor is ever turned away because of cost or capacity.
You keep this lifeline alive.
Become a Monthly Hope Partner
For many supporters, monthly giving is the most meaningful way to stand with survivors year-round. A steady gift—whether $15, $25, or $50—helps ensure our services remain strong and accessible.
Monthly support helps us:
Maintain 24/7 crisis response
Offer immediate counseling appointments
Recruit and train new advocates
Meet the growing needs of youth and families
Your consistency becomes someone else’s safety.
A Future Filled With Hope
As we look ahead, we see a community where survivors are met with dignity, where children are supported before trauma becomes a lifetime wound, and where prevention education helps build a safer future for all.
None of this is possible without you.
If Paola’s phone line was the beginning, your support is what ensures the next 50 years are even stronger.
You Can Make a Difference Today
Your gift—one-time or monthly—helps ensure that survivors in our region never lose access to the lifeline Paola helped create generations ago.
Make a donation today right here.
Thank you for your compassion, your solidarity, and your belief in this mission!