YouthPride board chair Jordan Myers took to Facebook today to make a plea to raise $25,000 in the next week. The agency that serves metro Atlanta LGBT youth may close if financial shortfalls aren't met, its executive director said yesterday.
"YouthPride in Atlanta provides COMPLETELY FREE services to LGBTQ youth. We need to raise $25K in the next week. Get out your check book and send a donation. Checks are best, since online takes longer to process. YP is the only family many of our youth have. PUT THE WORD OUT! YouthPride needs YOUR help. Go to www.youthpride.org for our mailing address and additional info," Myers' post reads.
A financial crisis at YouthPride has put the nonprofit agency that serves LGBT youth at risk of closing, the executive director said late Thursday.
"Donations are not coming at a pace we would like. We have bills to be paid. We've experienced this year to year," said Terence McPhaul, executive director of YouthPride.
And if tens of thousands of dollars aren't raised, the agency that has served LGBT youth since 1995 may shut its doors in 60-90 days. YouthPride offers a range of services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth ages 13-24 in the metro Atlanta area.
"We are certainly in a crisis. The money has to be raised … or we may be forced to close our doors," McPhaul said.
YouthPride 'may be forced to close' unless significant money raised soon
Atlanta LGBT youth organization YouthPride hosts its annual Night on the Boulevard fundraiser May 20 to benefit its HIV Prevention Department.
Attendees are asked to wear their best nightwear, pajamas or loungewear to the benefit held at Ansley Park Playhouse. There will be a red carpet from 7-7:30 p.m. open to all guests with photographers posing as paparazzi. Tickets to the fundraiser start at $100 and include admission as well as food and beverages.
Event co-organizer and YouthPride Executive Director Terence McPhaul said the event began around 10 years ago as a gathering of friends to watch old movies.
“Before it was a private affair,” McPhaul said. “It really started as a slumber party.”
The 8th annual Walk for a Cure to raise funds to fight the spread of HIV will be held at Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church on Saturday and benefits YouthPride, a nonprofit that serves LGBT youth. The 5K walk will be held on the campus of the church.
“YouthPride’s focus has been to create culturally competent HIV prevention education based how youth brains function in the retention of educational messages,” said Terence McPhaul in a statement. McPhaul is executive director and CEO of YouthPride, a nonprofit offering services and resources to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth living in metro Atlanta.
"Until that cure is found, we have to ramp-up quality care for those living with HIV/AIDS. And we have to be vigorous about getting formidable prevention messages to those most vulnerable," he said.
Sci-fi and fantasy themed benefit aims to raise funds for YouthPride
The Flaming Sugarbakers, Atlanta’s chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the Atlanta Radical Faeries have announced the “The Intergalactic Love Affair: A Cosmic Ball” to benefit LGBT youth organization YouthPride.
The fundraiser will be held at Jungle on Saturday, Feb. 12, and will feature a sci-fi / fantasy theme. Participants are encouraged to wear “cosmic” costumes to fit the theme.
Scheduled to perform are Back Pockets and DJ Diablo Rojo. Guest performers and other activities are also planned.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The event will be open to anyone 18 and older (though you need to be 21 to drink). The party will go from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., though Jungle will remain open after the event if you’re still in the mood to dance the night away.
YouthPride, a non-profit LGBT youth outreach organization, hosts a series of weekly discussion groups for teens and young adults
Local LGBT groups host discussion on upcoming midterm elections tonight
For the second straight year, YouthPride will offer an athletic break Pride weekend.
Details were still being determined by Georgia Voice’s press time, but YouthPride Executive Director Terence McPhaul says there would be a morning and afternoon session on Saturday, Oct. 9.
The organization is collaborating with Kaiser Permanente and the Atlanta Association of Nurses in AIDS Care to offer healthy programming to its young people attending Pride.