Richard

When my husband and I, a same-sex couple in Los Angeles, decided to pursue our dream of having a child through IVF, egg donation, and gestational surrogacy, we knew the journey would not only be emotionally complex but also financially overwhelming. Even with careful planning, the scale and timing of the costs created real pressure and concern.

The Jewish Free Loan Association of Los Angeles helped change that. Their support eased the financial strain of an extraordinarily expensive process, but just as importantly, it made us feel seen and supported by our Jewish community. The loan was offered with compassion and respect, allowing us to move forward with dignity and focus on the hope of manifesting the family we always dreamed of, rather than financial fears.

There’s a saying that it “takes a village” to raise a child. For us, that village showed up even before our son was born. Knowing that our Jewish village embraced our family and wanted to help make it possible meant more to us than we can adequately put into words.

Today, our son Basil (rhymes with "dazzle") is 6 1/2 years old—curious, joyful, funny, and full of love. He is proud of his Jewish heritage, and when he started kindergarten, he demanded that we enroll him in Hebrew school too! Every day with him is a reminder that the Jewish Free Loan Association didn’t just help fund a medical process; they helped create a family. We will always be deeply grateful for the role they played in bringing our son into the world.