Yorktown Heights - The Hudson Valley Chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) will be able to expand two of its community outreach programs as a result of a $5,000 grant to the organization from the Verizon Foundation.
The grant was awarded to GLSEN at a ceremony Tuesday, August 10th at 1:00 p.m. at Westchester Jewish Community Services, 845 North Broadway, White Plains, NY.
"We are so grateful for the recognition and support of Verizon in our work to protect the lives and safety of not only our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) youth, but of all youth," said Mary Jane Karger, GLSEN Hudson Valley’s Chapter Co-chair.
Half of the grant will be used by GLSEN to support a project in collaboration with the Children’s Media Project of Poughkeepsie. It will develop a public service announcement (PSA) to promote awareness of internet safety among teenagers.
"The internet is a wonderful place for learning, discovery and interacting with others," said Catherine Gasteyer, Verizon Director for External Affairs in Midstate, NY. "This unique project will help to educate, raise awareness and empower the teens in our community to use the Internet wisely and safely."
The PSA will be shown on local public access television networks, posted on GLSEN partners’ websites and social networking forums, and exhibited at the 12th annual PrideWorks for LGBT Youth Conference on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains to an audience of approximately 500 adults and youth.
The remainder of the Verizon grant will be dedicated to supporting the PrideWorks Conference. GLSEN is one of three organizations that collaborate to plan this event. The others are the Westchester chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Center Lane (Westchester Jewish Community Services’ Community Center for LGBT youth.) The conference’s mission is to inform local communities about the realities of growing up LGBT, to inspire them to respect and support LGBT people and to advocate for positive change.
"Verizon is excited to support this year’s conference. One important workshop we will be supporting will teach young people ways to safely use the Internet and participate in social networking," said Gasteyer.
