SNAP Supporter & Donor Profile: Supporting Those Egregiously Harmed: Jake Anderson

This profile was written by Patrick Price, Fundraising and Development Manager of SNAP, to honor our courageous and dedicated supporters and donors.

The SNAP community includes those who tragically have experienced sexual abuse by religious and other institutional authorities, the family members of those who were abused, the advocates for our cause, and those who support SNAP because of the healing services and programs we provide. Though not a victim of sexual abuse himself, Jake Anderson of Chicago, IL, has been a sustaining donor of SNAP because of our mission to protect vulnerable children, teenagers and adults, to heal those who have been, in Jake’s words, “egregiously harmed” by clergy sexual abuse, and to expose the truth about the effects of abuse and those who should be held accountable for victimization in religious organizations.

Jake first learned about the atrocities of clergy sexual abuse when viewing the film Spotlight, which addressed the Boston Globe’s investigation into cases of widespread and systematic child sexual abuse in the Boston area by numerous Catholic priests. Disgusted and outraged by what he had learned, Jake felt driven to empower the seemingly helpless and powerless to regain a sense of dignity and self-worth in their lives, to connect with a larger community that was addressing the issues confronting abuse survivors, and to reach out to the broader society in the U.S. and beyond about the lack of responsibility and accountability by religious organizations. Jake soon discovered SNAP and was impressed by the support groups and other educational and healing programs that we provide to survivors in our network. Jake was delighted to learn that SNAP helped those who were isolated by shame, guilt and fear by offering survivors a safe place to connect with others, to be heard and share their voices, and to be treated with the dignity they deserve.

For more than four years now, Jake has joyously been a charitable supporter of SNAP as a monthly sustaining donor, and he will continue to do so for as long as the Church continues to abuse the innocent. He hopes that all in our network and in the world at large do what they can to continue to help SNAP to thrive and our survivors to live in peace and comfort.