Help Fulfill Mike Rinder’s Final Wish: Please Donate to His Son’s College Fund

By Jeffrey Augustine on January 27, 2025 • ( 1 Comment )

Mike Rinder’s dying wish was for the community to donate to his son Jack’s college fund.

Claire Headley organized the fundraiser and it is very close to its goal.

Please make a donation to Jack’s college fund in Mike’s memory.

GoFundMe in honor of Mike’s wishes: https://gofund.me/36e23033

My heart is broken, and yet I feel compelled to share this. Words do not feel possible in this moment, and yet they are necessary. On January 5, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., we lost a true hero, a legend, a warrior, a survivor, a husband, a father, our family of choice, an amazing person, and a friend in the truest sense of the word.

Mike Rinder, you will always be loved, always be missed, and you will always be celebrated.

Do you believe in second chances? Well, I do.

And god damn it, Mike, you made the most of your second chance like none I’ve ever seen. You were dragged into an abusive and dangerous cult as a child. Your response? You did as many humans would do—myself included—you worked hard to excel, to make your family proud, to commit to a cause, and doing so led you to some very dark places indeed. What makes you unique, Mike, is that you knew the dangers of this abusive organization better than most—firsthand. And yet, when your opportunity came to escape, you turned right around and fought back, knowing full well the weight the consequences of this would bear—on yourself, on your family, on your loved ones. But you did it anyway, because you knew it was the truly right and only honorable thing to do.

It is a rare human who has the courage, integrity, perseverance, and humility to walk out of a fire, turn around, and walk right back in to save others.

While Marc and I escaped before you, and while we experienced fair game at your hand, we never once blamed you nor held any hard feelings toward you. We knew full well the consequences of our decision to speak out, just like you did. And if it wasn’t you, it would have been someone else. We never doubted that for one second. We were just so grateful to have the opportunity to reunite with you in the free world—something we NEVER imagined would happen until it did.

I had the honor of knowing you for 23 years. I think it’s fair to say that I saw you at your best and at your worst. Through it all, you were special and unique. When I was at my utmost lowest point, banished to the Hole in January 2005 and having lost my husband, you showed me kindness and compassion, despite consequences, when no one else did.

My heart broke the many times I witnessed David Miscavige physically, emotionally, and verbally abuse you, brutally. I’m so sorry I did not stand up for you in those moments, even if it would have meant the end of my story.

It has truly been my honor and blessing to count you as a dear friend, as my family of choice, as my brother, as my fellow warrior.

You have always inspired me to keep going, to continue advocating for victims, and to keep fighting for the end of Scientology abuses, even as it was exhausting and took a huge toll on my mental well-being, my safety, and my happiness.

Mike, you inspire me to be a better person; to keep fighting the good fight; to keep my head up with the knowledge and commitment that I can do hard things, even when I don’t believe in myself. You never once doubted me.

I don’t remember the first time you coined the name “Claire Bear” for me, but however many years ago that was, it stuck. You recognized me for who I am, and while I will shed tears, I will lean into that and learn to appreciate and respect the hole that has been left in my heart.

You are so very loved, Mike Rinder. We will take care of Christie and your boys as you asked. Sweet Christie, I love you to the moon and back, more than my own sisters. Shane and Jack, you will be our family forever. We love you as the auntie and uncle Scientology deprived you of.

And Mike, thank you for your incredibly beautiful vision: I well remember our conversation back in 2013, where we talked about the impact of disconnection on our kids. “What if we spend time together, vacation together, and have our kids grow up as cousins?” you suggested. Of course, we immediately loved the idea, and so it came to be.

F**k you, Scientology and David Miscavige. Mike Rinder is a legend and will always be a legend. He leaves behind a legacy of love, integrity, advocacy, and truth, and you will NEVER take that away.

I commit to continuing to fight this fight, even when I feel the need to bow my head in exhaustion, in Mike’s honor.

I am truly so grateful I was able to be with you to the end. We love you deeply, brother! Rest easy. We’ve got this. Fly high.