San Diego is known as a top vacation spot for many. With its beautiful beaches, lively city, and famous zoo, people have found San Diego to be an amazing place. But sadly, San Diego is also in the top 8 cities for commercial sexual exploitation of children across the country. The Generate Hope Foundation and our very own Dons Generate Hope club are thankfully here to help.
The Generate Hope Foundation is focused on providing long-term help to women who are victims of sex trafficking and concentrates on their mission to aid women in integrating them back into their normal lives smoothly. Dons Generate Hope is also here to help with donations from students to the organization and meetings during lunch to help raise awareness of this evident problem in the world.
Avery Bodnar ‘25 is the founder of the Dons Generate Hope on campus. She shares that she was inspired to start the club because she wanted to “do something about it.” Sex trafficking has become one of the largest organized crime businesses and it’s hard to prevent it if you don’t know what you’re looking for, especially if you’re not working for a police department or bureaucracy that is working to prevent it and stop it from happening.
“I found this organization called Generate Hope helping survivors and I figured starting this club was a great way to help.” Bodnar shared that she wished the club would “heighten awareness” on the issue. Students should know what trafficking is and looks like.
I am a part of the club and was personally inspired to join because, as a young woman, I think it’s important to support other women and that’s what this club is focused on doing. Lucy Hetherington ‘26, a member of the club shares that, “I think this club is a great way to support women on campus.” The Generate Hope Foundation is also responsible for the education of its victims and prepares them for the next stage of their life, whether it is college or a vocation, no matter what state they are in.
As moderator of the Dons Generate Hope club and math teacher at Cathedral Mr. Ragusa expressed, “It’s a great way to get people involved, it’s also a great way to meet new people.”
CCHS students have the special opportunity to start any club they’d like on campus as well as join any club they’d like. Feel free to join Dons Generate Hope by contacting the club leader Avery Bodnar. Also, feel free to donate to the cause of The Generate Hope foundation. Start generating change and hope with your club, don’t be shy!
