Second Story

06/01/2026

Second Story’s Cathy Benn has been helping local youth and families during her 15 years with the organization. She testified at a recent budget hearing before the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to advocate for the importance of our mission.

Second Story’s Cathy Benn has been helping local youth and families during her 15 years with the organization. She testified at a recent budget hearing befor...

05/28/2026

At the Culmore Youth Council, our amazing board member, Shirvan, spent time with our teens for a deep dive into financial literacy.

The big lesson of the day? How to read your paycheck. Understanding gross vs. net pay, taxes, and deductions is a huge step toward independence, and our teens are now better prepared to manage their first (or next!) jobs with confidence.

Thank you, Shirvan, for sharing your expertise and empowering our youth!

05/27/2026

High school physics teacher Kim Freudenberg, President of Parents Standing Together was thrust into the reality of her son's hidden online gambling addiction, which started when he was just 11 years old.

"Just think like this is not something that happens to other people's kids. It happened to my kid, it could happen to your kid."

Watch to hear Kim’s powerful story of survival, boundaries, and hope after recovery.

🔗 Visit our YouTube to watch the full conversation with Kim: https://buff.ly/E8XwYHU

05/26/2026

A huge shoutout to Girl Scout Troop 50054 (shoutout to the Madison and Oakton HS students!) for choosing Second Story for their cookie donations again this year.

Their decision to support Second Story helps us continue providing essential resources to those in need. Not only did they donate their cookies to Second Story, they also spent their sales time educating the public about our mission.

We are so inspired by these young leaders and their commitment to supporting their neighbors!

05/22/2026

We recently celebrated our amazing Resource Center Community Ambassadors and volunteers with a special Appreciation Day! Everyone walked away with a bag of goodies, and a few lucky folks won our big raffle boxes.

Because so many of these leaders are also dedicated mothers, it was the perfect opportunity to honor their dual roles.

To our community ambassadors, our volunteers, and all the moms who pour their hearts into making our community safer and stronger: thank you for everything you do.

Learn more about our programs at an Open Door information session: https://buff.ly/CIcyXnL

05/20/2026

Got 45 minutes tomorrow? ⏳

Spend your lunch break getting up to speed on an issue affecting more middle and high school students than most realize. We are hosting a quick, impactful session on youth online gambling, sports betting trends, and what it means for your family.

📅 Tomorrow, May 21
🕛 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
📍 Online

Registration closes soon. Secure your spot now: https://buff.ly/eGTL7Qh

05/18/2026

Join fellow DMV parents and guardians for a timely conversation on the rapidly growing world of online gambling, and what it means for young people today.

You'll hear from Second Story staff as well as Kim Freudenberg, co-founder of Parents Standing Together, a nonprofit featured in a recent story on NBC News.

Parents Standing Together raises awareness about youth gambling-related harm, empowers parents with tools and knowledge to recognize and mitigate risks, and provides peer support to navigate its impact. Kim will share her journey as a mother to a teen struggling with gambling addiction and how the organization she co-founded helps step in to fill the void of resources in this area.

Register: https://buff.ly/eGTL7Qh

05/15/2026

Gaming or gambling? With schools letting out for the summer, many young people will spend more time online, increasing their exposure to gambling-like features in games, sports betting content, and online gambling platforms

Join us for a free, virtual Learning Series event: https://buff.ly/gz0XcMU

The explosion of online gambling and sports betting, as well as the advertising behind it, is attracting a growing number of young people, most of them boys.

05/13/2026

Is your teen seeing more than just the game? From sports media and gaming environments to peer networks, online betting culture is reaching our youth in ways we’ve never seen before.

What you’ll learn:
📱 How betting culture reaches youth through sports and gaming
🧠 Why adolescent brains are especially vulnerable to these reward systems
🚩 How to spot early involvement
🗣️ Relationship-centered strategies for setting boundaries with your teen

📅 May 21
🕛 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Register: https://bit.ly/BettingonRisk

05/12/2026

is here! We are joining 100+ local nonprofits to support our neighbors through this Give Greater DC campaign from Spur Local.

Our vision is a community where everyone feels safe, hopeful, and seen. But for many local youth and families, that reality feels out of reach.

Your gift ensures that those facing crisis - like "Jada," a young mother who found safety with us after escaping domestic abuse - receive the housing, critical tools, and community support they need to achieve lasting self-sufficiency.

Support our work: https://buff.ly/jYZ5dHA