Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: Yew Belong Community Serices, Inc
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 1905 Sunset Blvd
City: West Columbia
State: South Carolina
Postal Code: 29169
Main Phone: 8038733098
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.yewbelong.com
Employer ID Number: 92-2562364
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 2/8/2023
Requested Amount: 10,000.00

Project Title: Yew Belong Community Services, Inc.
Project Description:

Yew Belong Community Services, Inc. is a non-profit founded in February 2023 to address the gaps in clinical and community support care for the gender-expansive and BIPOC: LGBTQIAP+ community. Our mission is to provide evidence-based, affirmative mental health services and outreach, including psychoeducation, resources, and group support for members of the LGBTQIAP+ community, with an emphasis on supporting further underserved and marginalized persons (i.e., BIPOC, Gender Expansive Persons, Homeless/Housing Insecure, Uninsured, Unemployed). We determined that our name needed to reflect our dedication to diversity, and the yew tree seemed to be an appropriate symbol for the developmental nature of our identities. In 2015, the Fortingall yew tree, the oldest in the United Kingdom, was noted to experience a change in sex between 3,000 and 5,000 years. As our language evolves and people move through their life experiences, they increase their awareness of themselves and we suppose them through the changes and growth.
Yew Belong has five programs for our project. The programs are Professional Counseling Services, Gender Journey Support Groups, Professional Supervision for Provisional Counselors, Consultation, and Professional Mentoring. Our clinicians are trained in several culturally responsive therapy approaches to meet our clients and their loved ones’ needs. The teams’ expertise and focus are on several evidence-based practices; these approaches include but are not limited to Trauma-informed practices, Cognitive and Behavioral Theories, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR, and Affirmative therapy. We serve the greater Columbia area and surrounding in South Carolina. We also support. Safe Spaces Dinners," which occur on the second and fourth Thursday of each month. Which supports homeless LGBTQIA+ youth, including people of color, through their dinners. They reach adolescence, 14-23 years of age, a place to rest and recharge. They provide a home-cooked meal and backpacks with helpful day-to-day items.

Total Project Budget: $40,000.00

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential):

Project Duration: continual programs
Geographical Area Served: Greater Columbia area and surroundings in South Carolina.
Age Group To Be Served: 5-24 years of age

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Wendy
Contact Last Name: Vaughn
Contact Title: Planned Giving Coordinator
Contact Phone: 8038733098
Contact Email: wvaughn@yewbelong.com