How Victoria’s Friends Helps Women Find New Paths — Outreach, Journey Groups, and Scholarships

For 25 years, Victoria’s Friends has stood alongside women working in the adult entertainment industry who are seeking a safer, more stable future for themselves and their children. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we combine direct outreach, structured support, and financial assistance to remove barriers and open new opportunities for lasting change.

Our approach: meet people where they are

We begin by building trust. Our Baskets of Love outreach brings gift bags directly into dressing rooms at clubs, accompanied by a friendly, nonjudgmental presence. These monthly outreaches make it clear: we see you, we care, and help is available. Through this work we connect candidates to our services and learn more about their immediate needs.

Baskets of Love — immediate care and connection

• Over 2,000 “bags of love” go out each year.

• Monthly club outreaches maintain regular contact and provide an entry point into our programs.

• Our outreach experience shows many women face exploitation or coercion: approximately 70% are trafficked into the sex industry; 81% want to leave but see no other option for survival; and 90% are single mothers trying desperately to pay bills and feed their children.

These realities drive our mission. The Bags of Love outreach is both practical — providing needed items and resources — and relational, offering a pathway into longer-term support.

Journey Groups — the entry point to change

When a volunteer connects with a potential candidate and the woman expresses interest in exploring other options, our Journey Groups provide the next step. Designed for women who are serious about leaving or who have tried to leave and returned, Journey Groups offer a safe, supportive environment where candidates can:

• Identify and prioritize individual needs

• Build interpersonal and socialization skills

• Access resources such as career training, aptitude testing, and college entry support

Candidates join Journey Groups after an intake appointment and assessment, ensuring each person gets the right level of attention and care as they begin their transition.

Scholarship Program — funding the first steps toward independence

For many women, the biggest barriers to leaving are economic. Our Scholarship Program provides transitional funds and tailored assistance to help women move from dependence on the clubs to self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships we connect candidates to career training, counseling, marketing and branding support, accountants, and more. Scholarships are tailored to individual needs and have covered essentials such as rent, utilities, vehicles, child care, counseling, and college expenses. On average we award 15–20 scholarships a year and serve 45–50 candidates annually, with emergency assistance available as needs arise.

A long-term vision of impact

Over the last quarter century, Victoria’s Friends has helped hundreds of women gain direction, hope, and a renewed vision for their lives and their children’s futures. The changes we foster not only affect the women we serve, but generations to come.

How you can help

• Volunteer: Join our outreach teams or help run Journey Groups.

• Donate: Funds make our scholarships and emergency assistance possible.

• Partner: If you are a service provider (counselor, trainer, accountant, and childcare ), we welcome collaborations.

Contact us:

Victoria’s Friends

345 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 1202, Suwanee, GA 30024

Website: victorias-friends.org

Phone: 678-218-7188