Press release from Youth OUTright:
We have an amazing opportunity for the next 10 days: If we raise $2,000 by May 31st, one of our major donors will multiply that by 5 and award us $10,000!!!
Youth OUTright is in an exciting phase of growth. With a paternership with Blue Ridge Pride, Tranzmission , and SONG (Southerns on New Ground) we’re gearing up to open the Western North Carolina Community Center, the first LGBTQIA+ center in WNC!
Your financial support will allow Youth OUTright (YO) to continue to provide a safe place for LGBTQIA+ youth ages 11-20 in Western North Carolina to gain confidence, become resilient, and practice compassion.
For every dollar you donate between now and May 31st, our major funder will donate $5, but only if we meet that $2,000 mark! Help us make a huge impact in the lives of LGBTQIA+ youth in WNC!
2017 has been an exciting and productive year for us. Below are a few highlights of what we’ve been able to accomplish with your support.
We’re opening the first ever brick and mortar LGBTQIA+ community center in WNC!
We’ve had a 65% increase in new youth attending our weekly programs and special events
The creation of the first-ever Youth Advisory Board & ongoing youth-led drag shows are creating new leadership opportunities for our youth. Conferences like the UNCA Queer Studies conference, Creating Change, and ASPYRE leadership camp have all been fabulous opportunities for YO youth to challenge themselves and develop their leadership skills.
We launched a new monthly fundraiser and outreach event: Second Saturdays Drag Brunch @ THE BLOCK off biltmore! It’s been a great platform not just local professional drag performers but also YO youth!
Additionally this year we’ve been reaching out into the community and really cultivating new partnerships with local organizations in addtion to our Center Partners. Light a Path, the YMCA, as well as Empyrean Arts have helped us add to our health and wellness programming, empowering youth to celebrate and take care of their bodies and minds!
By making a tax-deductible donation to Youth OUTright, your generosity ensures our youth will have the support and resources they need to reach their full potential.
Because of their involvement with YO, 71% of our youth reported a greater sense of belonging and connection to the larger LGBTQ community.
Your contribution is not only an acknowledgment of your support for youth in our community but also an investment in the ongoing work of building a colorful, strong, and thriving community.
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