Interview with Jamie Tworkowski founder of To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) 2/24/12

To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is an American non-profit organization which aims to present hope for people struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide while also investing directly into treatment and recovery. Based in Melbourne, Florida, TWLOHA seeks to connect people to treatment centers, websites, books, support groups and other resources. TWLOHA also encourages people to have honest conversations about these issues, to live in community.

A large portion of the work is dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional treatment (i.e. rehab, counseling, helplines) and the lives of people who need help. Examples of this include music festivals and tours, social networking sites, and schools and universities. Wanting to support existing professional help organizations rather than replace them, TWLOHA also sends a portion of donations directly to such causes as Hopeline, InTheRooms.com, S.A.F.E. Alternatives, Minding Your Mind, and (in Australia) Kids Helpline.

The group’s main exposure comes from musicians and bands who wear the organization’s distinctive T-shirts in photographs and performances; however, it has recently gained more public exposure through merchandise and public community websites such as Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Tumblr. Professional soccer players Abby Wambach, Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe are often seen wearing TWLOHA shirts. TWLOHA had a booth at every stop at Vans Warped Tour for the past five years