WHO WE ARE
Igniting Hope,
Empowering Survivors
At the HAE Fired Up Foundation, we believe that no one should carry the weight of trauma alone. Every story matters, and every voice deserves to be heard. Born from a desire to create lasting change, we are more than a foundation—we are a movement fueled by hope, healing, and empowerment.
Our Mission
- Providing Grants Supporting organizations that offer life-changing services such as therapy, housing assistance, and advocacy for survivors.
- Awarding Scholarships Empowering survivors to pursue education and career aspirations, opening doors to brighter futures and lasting independence.
- Hosting Educational Events Offering opportunities to learn, heal, and connect, helping survivors and supporters alike to grow together.
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Delivering Trauma-Informed
Law Training Equipping legal professionals with the tools to communicate with empathy and understanding, avoid re-traumatizing survivors, and achieve better outcomes.
Through these efforts, we’re creating a comprehensive network of care to help survivors reclaim their power and live their fullest lives.
Our Story
The HAE Fired Up Foundation is deeply connected to the values and mission of our founder, Alreen Haeggquist. As a fierce advocate for justice, Alreen has dedicated her life to empowering survivors of sexual violence and helping them find their voices.
Having experienced trauma herself, Alreen knows firsthand the transformative power of speaking out.
She along with the partners at the HAE Law Firm founded the HAE Fired Up Foundation as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit to extend support beyond the courtroom—to the individuals, communities, and organizations that need it most.
Our work began as an extension of the principles that guide the HAE Law Firm. While the firm has long championed justice for survivors, the foundation focuses on an equally critical mission: providing the resources, tools, and healing opportunities survivors need to rebuild their lives and thrive.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where survivors are empowered to rise, and silence no longer holds us back from healing or creating change.
When we speak out, we not only begin to heal—we make sexual violence less likely to happen in the first place.
Our long-term vision is a thriving, self-sustaining foundation that amplifies survivors’ voices, raises awareness, and provides the vital resources needed to break cycles of trauma.
By working hand-in-hand with shelters, counselors, and advocacy organizations, we aim to create a future where survivors find healing, communities become safer, and the ripple effect of courage and compassion transforms lives—one survivor, one story, one step at a time.
MEET THE BOARD
Alreen Haeggquist wakes up each day with a fervent passion to advocate for women who suffer from sexual abuse, harassment, or discrimination. As a lawyer with 21 years of experience, she has recovered millions of dollars for clients in cases involving sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Alreen has an unwavering commitment to not allow wealth, power, influence, or status to exempt anyone from the rules of society.
Alreen‘s father was a terrifying presence who subjected her to sexual, physical, and verbal abuse. Despite knowing, her mother remained silent. Darkness loomed within Alreen, leading to depression and multiple suicide attempts. She remained quiet out of fear and shame, never telling a soul. Typical victim behavior.
Motivated by the pains of her childhood, Alreen became a lawyer in order to stand up for victims of abuse. She founded her own firm, Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, in San Diego in 2008, which has helped hundreds of other women stand up for themselves. Alreen has challenged high-profile entities including The Salk Institute, Trader Joe’s, Kaiser Permanente, the San Diego Sheriff‘s Department, and a President-elect.
Alreen’s core message is that, as a society, we need to break the silence and help women stand up to their abusers. In 2023, she broke her own silence and published her story in the book, Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma.
Haeggquist & Eck partner and trial attorney Amber Eck is a tenacious advocate for employees, consumers and shareholders, and has been for the past 26 years. Amber has taken cases to trial in both state and federal court as lead trial attorney, and has recovered millions of dollars for her clients in settlements, including multiple six- and seven-figure settlements. Amber doesn’t shy away from high-profile defendants — a fact well-illustrated by her role as co-lead counsel in the well-publicized class action against President Donald Trump and Trump University, which settled for $25 million. For her work in the case, which spanned seven years, Amber and her partners took no fees. In 2016, the Trump University settlement was deemed one of California’s Top 50 Class Action Settlements.
Amber has represented plaintiffs in employment cases for wrongful termination, sexual harassment, unequal pay, and discrimination based on gender, race, religion, pregnancy, disability and age against such major corporations as Calpine, Trader Joe’s, LuLaRoe, Dollar Tree, Jollibee, Cheesecake Factory and Cemex.
Amber is dedicated to providing pro bono legal assistance to underserved populations. She is a current member of the Southern District of California’s Pro Bono Panel, and recently represented in indigent inmate in a jury trial in federal court for violation of his 8thAmendment rights. She is also a recognized by SuperLawyers as one of the top 25 women lawyers in San Diego and top 50 lawyers in San Diego. She and her firm have also been selected by U.S. News & World Reports as “Best Lawyers in America” and “Best Law Firm” for 2022.
Amber frequently speaks on employment and other legal issues. She spoke to the Public Interest Advocacy Collaborative on “Using a Victim Advocate to Strengthen Your Civil Case,” and served as a discussion facilitator at the Lawyers Club Solutions Summit on the topic of Eliminating Sexual Harassment, Sexism & Bullying in the Workplace. Amber was also a panelist discussing “The Law as a Tool” at the International Agro-Ecological & Environmental Conference in San Francisco, and was a panelist at the California Women Lawyers Conference on “Transitions to Leadership.” Amber has been a featured guest on ESPN’s Real Talk Downtown and a guest speaker on the topic of small law firms and solo practitioners at the Lawyers Club of San Diego’s annual symposium. She is a Master in the Welsh Inn of Court, a member of the California Employment Lawyers Association (“CELA”), Lawyers Club of San Diego, Federal Bar Association, and Consumer Attorneys of San Diego.
Outside the office, Amber enjoys playing pickleball, hiking, skiing, and scuba diving, exploring San Diego and spending time with her husband, Jeff, and teenage daughters, Jordyn and Kathryn.
Aaron M. Olsen serves as Treasurer and a Board Member of the HAE Fired Up Foundation, where he is deeply committed to advancing trauma‑informed support, survivor empowerment, and community‑based justice initiatives. Aaron brings a strong sense of fiduciary responsibility and strategic leadership to the Foundation, helping ensure that its resources are managed thoughtfully and deployed to maximize impact for survivors of sexual violence.
In addition to his board service, Aaron is a partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, where he has spent his career advocating for individuals harmed by abuse of power, discrimination, and systemic injustice. He has resolved hundreds of cases on behalf of employees and consumers, recovering millions of dollars in damages. His practice includes complex litigation, class actions, and high‑stakes matters involving employment rights and civil accountability.
Aaron’s commitment to public service extends beyond the courtroom. He has devoted significant time to charitable and advocacy organizations and has represented vulnerable populations, including immigrant families affected by federal immigration policies. His work reflects a core belief in accountability, equity, and the importance of giving voice to those who are too often marginalized or silenced.
As a board member of the HAE Fired Up Foundation, Aaron is passionate about supporting programs that provide survivors with access to healing resources, education, and opportunity. He views the Foundation’s mission as a natural extension of his lifelong dedication to justice, integrity, and meaningful social change.
Jenna Rangel is a Partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP and serves as Secretary of the Board of the HAE Fired Up Foundation. In this role, she helps advance the Foundation’s mission to address the profound and lasting impact of sexual violence—ensuring survivors have access not only to justice, but to the resources, community, and support they need to heal and thrive.
In her legal practice, Jenna represents employees in matters involving wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and sexual assault, and she advocates for students who have faced discrimination and sexual harassment by their universities under Title IX. Known for her strategic approach and deep empathy, she is committed to helping clients navigate difficult experiences and move forward with confidence.
Jenna is also passionate about empowering women by educating them about their rights. She regularly speaks to students and community groups, helping individuals understand their legal protections and encouraging them to stand up for themselves.
Through her work with the Foundation and in her legal practice, Jenna is dedicated to amplifying survivor voices, advancing equity, and helping create a world where survivors are supported, empowered, and able to reclaim their lives.