Amanda and I were both Division I athletes in college, which helped shape our leadership skills and our shared sense of community. Later, as a teacher and coach, I worked extremely hard to serve as a role model for all my students – whether they were struggling with their identity, in need of guidance, or wrestling with the pitfalls of being a teenager. I’ve also helped parents of LGBTQ+ children better understand and relate to their kids.

As a married couple within the LGBTQ+ community, we feel a strong sense of responsibility to be advocates for those struggling. We want to give our time, attention and support to the LGBTQ+ community and the local communities we have homes in.

When you build with us, partner with us, or stay with us, you’re reinvesting in the community. Not just in the community you’re in, but also the LGBTQ+ community, those who suffer with thoughts of suicide, and those who are affected by homelessness. The James Initiative was created to support these causes. –Xan, Co-Founder

BUILDING SUPPORT
Honoring the memory of James “Uncle Jim” Gibson was the catalyst for why we give, but there’s even more of a personal investment in our mission. Our role model and namesake took his own life, and we are committed to celebrating a life well-lived by donating to suicide prevention and education programs.

BUILDING EQUALITY
As a married couple within the LGBTQ+ community, we want to give back to our brothers and sisters. So we’re working to further equality in our local “hometown” communities of Denver, Austin, and Raleigh-Durham. Furthermore, suicide disproportionately affects the LGBTQ+ community – overlapping two of our causes.

BUILDING CHANGE
We build homes and we invest in properties, so we thought it was a natural fit for us to help remedy the homeless crisis. Furthermore, since homelessness disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ youth, this was a cause close to our hearts.

We give a portion of our net proceeds to the The James Initiative, which allocates funds to local organizations that support these causes – all of which are incredibly important to us. If you want to give to The James Initiative, but don’t live near one of our homebase cities, please fill out a donation form below.