The Extravagant Love Project, founded by Denise Graves and Amy Volstad, is dedicated to transforming the lives of women who have endured trauma, abuse, homelessness, addiction, and displacement. By facilitating outreach events and offering vital resources like group therapy, individual counseling, and inner healing sessions, the organization helps these women rediscover their true identities and begin the journey toward recovery. Furthermore, the project provides opportunities for ongoing mentorship, connecting participants with supportive women who guide them through challenging life seasons. In addition to emotional and psychological support, the Extravagant Love Project helps coordinate the distribution of essential items such as furniture, clothes, diapers, and food to women in vulnerable situations.
Denise, a Pastor at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, shares that the project “started with the makeover, before we were actually founded as a nonprofit. But the end goal was holistic healing. Body, soul, spirit. So you start with the outer and then you work on the inner, you know, and people feeling good about themselves and so that’s kind of how we started with the makeover and did 10 years of those and then COVID happened.”
In April of this year, ELP returned to hosting their red carpet dinner event at Light of Life. Many participants were grateful and in awe that people cared enough to help provide beautiful makeovers, a delicious dinner, and help celebrate their accomplishments in the program. Volunteers and businesses from all over the city came together to serve dinner, escort guests, provide manicures, pedicures, hairstyles, makeup and eyelashes.
How The Journey Began
The Extravagant Love Project’s journey began with strategic partnerships that exemplify community collaboration at its finest. Denise and Amy reached out to local businesses to secure a venue where they could prepare and serve food for their events. One notable partnership was with a bistro on the North Side of Pittsburgh, which agreed to close down for an evening to host the program’s participants. Additionally, they formed a pivotal alliance with the local transport authority to secure buses for transporting participants to and from the Extravagant Love Project’s red carpet events. Remarkably, drivers from the transport authority volunteered their time, underscoring the community’s commitment to supporting these transformative events. These foundational partnerships not only facilitated the logistics of the events but also strengthened the sense of community involvement in the project’s mission.
A compelling testament to the program’s success is the story of an immigrant woman from Guyana who escaped an abusive situation. Through the project’s intervention, she received comprehensive support including counseling and mentorship, which facilitated her integration into the community and helped stabilize her family’s life. This narrative underscores the profound impact of the project’s holistic approach.
How You Can Help
Currently, the Extravagant Love Project is seeking volunteers for various roles, with commitments no longer than six months. This flexibility allows volunteers to make a meaningful impact without a long-term obligation. Particularly, there is a significant need for mentors in the mentorship program, which aims to connect participants with the community as they transition towards a healthier way of life. Mentors play a crucial role in supporting these women, offering guidance and connection to resources as they navigate their new beginnings.
For Denise and Amy, the program’s reward lies in witnessing the tangible changes in the lives of the women they help. Each transformation story reaffirms their commitment to their work and fuels their passion. It’s not just about the immediate changes they see but the long-term effects on the participants’ lives and their families.
The project also includes community events such as benefit auctions and social gatherings designed to raise funds and awareness. These events are vital for the sustainability and growth of the program, allowing it to reach and transform more lives. There will be a benefit on November 8 this year and the Extravagant Love Project is in need of donations from local businesses for their auctions.
As the Extravagant Love Project looks to expand its mentorship program and continue its mission, it remains a beacon of hope and transformation in the Pittsburgh community and beyond. The deep impact of the project extends beyond the individuals it directly assists, influencing families and the broader community, demonstrating the powerful effects of compassion and dedicated service.
For those interested in supporting or volunteering with the Extravagant Love Project, please email info@elproject.org. This project is more than an organization; it is a movement towards healing, empowerment, and profound community change.
