Healing Women From The Inside Out

This past Sunday, people filled the to attend a fundraiser to benefit abused women through the Time To Fly Foundation. Pianist Adlan Cruz had the stage for the majority of the concert, but program graduates of Time To Fly came forward to share their stories as well.

“Let’s stop whispering about this and do something,” said Michelle Jones, Founder and President of the Time To Fly Foundation (TTF). “Let’s save a life.”

According to Jones, Cruz heard about the TTF mission and reached out to them to see how he could help. Cruz began to play the piano at the age of three and has since become a world-renowned Christian musician. Originally from Puerto Rico, Cruz has traveled the world performing his music.

“Here’s someone who’s seen a lot around the globe,” said Jones. “This is a rare opportunity to hear some incredible music around a very candid topic.”

Ten years ago, Jones founded TTF to fix a recurring problem she saw as she volunteered at shelters: there was a repeated pattern of women who went through physical abuse that came in every six months or 90 days. Once their physical wounds were healed, they were sent away. “If you’re experiencing verbal or emotional abuse, there are very few avenues for treatment,” said Jones.

Jones also brings with her the compassion and drive of a person who has experienced the abuse cycle. “I went through an emotionally-abusive marriage. The shelter is not a place you can go. They say, ‘You have no wounds, how are we going to help you?’”

She says she found healing through scripture and religion and went on to help others find it as well. “After my heart was put back to together, it said, ‘Michelle, it’s not just for you. It’s about the bigger picture.’ It’s been an honor and a humbling ten years.”

When Jones created TTF, she drew on the tools that helped her in her own recovery. TTF is a faith-based, three-step program designed to restore women’s confidence, break the generational cycle, and strengthen the existing family unit. According to the TTF website, this is accomplished with biblical instruction and practical application of learned principles. Every four months, about 50 women and their children go through an introductory workshop, an intensive nine-week course, as well as an aftercare program. Because only women who are serious about recovering are accepted into the program, TTF has a 99.9% completion rate of the nine-week course.

While the primary goal of the concert was to raise awareness, TTF also plans to use the proceeds of Sunday’s concert to expand their services “beyond the beltway,” said Jones. They have a list of locations that are requesting their services, and are working to respond to five beta cities as well.

“It’s exciting, but it breaks your heart at the same time,” said Jones. “We’re excited about people coming forward to be part of the solution.”

More information about the Time To Fly Foundation and ways you can help are available on their website, timetofly.org. Volunteer opportunities are also available.