Linda & Clayton Hayes Fund

Linda & Clayton Hayes were tireless advocates for equality in Columbia and a powerful example of what it means to love a child fiercely and without condition. As the founders of our community’s first PFLAG chapter, Linda & Clayton created a lifeline for families learning how to support and protect their LGBTQIA+ children--work that later became the foundation for The Center Project’s Parents4Parents group. Their courage, compassion, and determination helped make our community safer and more affirming for queer youth and their families. Linda passed away on May 27, 2019, but her legacy lives on. In her and Clayton's honor, the founders and early board members of The Center Project are raising $5,000 to name the TCP Youth Garage after Linda & Clayton—a space where LGBTQIA+ youth can feel the safety, acceptance, and support they both believed every child deserved. A gift to this fund is a way to honor Linda & Clayton's legacy and ensure their impact continues for generations to come.