Amicitia Reciproca began with one person's experience.
Our founder, James Peth, sustained a spinal cord injury in 1999 and completed his rehabilitation at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado. After moving to Fort Collins, he built his life with the help of friends from different countries and backgrounds. They shared daily life with him. They cooked together, explored the city together, and became real friends.
Those friendships taught him something. When support comes from friendship rather than a transaction, both people thrive. The friends who helped him weren't just getting tasks done. They were growing too: learning a new place, building community, and finding purpose.
He wanted to make that kind of friendship possible for others. In 2021, he started Amicitia Reciproca, which means “reciprocal friendship” in Latin. It became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2022.
Where we are now
We're honest about where we are: just getting started. So far, our founder and board have funded the organization themselves. We're building the partnerships, training, and support every friendship will need. We've applied for our first grants, and our grant writer is helping us find more.
Where we're going
We plan to start small in Fort Collins, with just a few matches, and do them well. We'd rather grow deeply than quickly. Over time, we hope to bring this model to more Colorado communities.
If this story speaks to you, we'd love your help writing the next chapter. Visit our Get Involved page to give, volunteer, or partner with us.
