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TO NATIONAL EDITORS:
The Biden Foundation and YMCA of the USA Announce Joint Effort to
Foster LGBTQ Inclusion and Equity Nationwide
WASHINGTON, May 21, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Biden Foundation and YMCA
of the USA (Y-USA) today announced a joint three-year effort to foster
LGBTQ inclusion and equity at YMCA locations nationwide. Driven by a
shared commitment to ensuring all people are treated with dignity and
respect, this collaboration will first establish a pilot cohort of Ys
that will develop and implement locally focused strategies designed to
engage and support LGBTQ individuals and their families. These
strategies may include staff training; member outreach and engagement;
program innovation for LGBTQ youth, adults, seniors and families; and
community collaborations. In following years, the best practices and
tools developed by the cohort will be scaled to reach Ys nationwide.
This new initiative is made possible thanks to generous funding by the
Gill Foundation and the David Bohnett Foundation. The Biden Foundation
and Y-USA will provide technical support and strategic guidance to Ys,
and the initiative will be supported by a Biden Fellow and a new Y-USA
staff position dedicated to LGBTQ inclusion.
"The Biden Foundation is committed to changing our culture so that
everyone, including LGBTQ people, feel supported and affirmed," said
Louisa Terrell, Executive Director of the Biden Foundation. "We could
not ask for better partners in this work than YMCA of the USA, with
its history, reach, and impact in communities across America. The Gill
Foundation, which has supported innovative strategies to advance LGBTQ
equal treatment for decades; and the David Bohnett Foundation, which
has invested significant resources in supporting and empowering local
LGBTQ communities are equally powerful partners in this work."
"The Y is committed to addressing critical social issues and helping
all people reach their full potential with dignity and respect," said
Kevin Washington, President and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "Our
commitment is rooted in our inclusive mission and our belief that
communities are stronger when everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Supporting the well-being and safety of LGBTQ youth and adults is an
important need in our communities, and we are proud to partner with
the Biden Foundation, Gill Foundation and David Bohnett Foundation to
support it."
"Despite tremendous progress over the last decade, LGBTQ individuals
and families continue to face discrimination and challenges at work,
in their communities and schools, and even within their own families,"
said Scott Miller, Co-Chair of the Gill Foundation. "We are grateful
for Vice President and Dr. Biden's leadership to promote inclusion
through their foundation and to have the opportunity to work closely
with YMCA of the USA."
"The most direct way to support families and members of the LGBTQ
communities is by being on the ground with them," said David Bohnett,
Founder and Chair of the David Bohnett Foundation. "We are proud to
support this historic effort to ensure all our young people, families,
and seniors are supported and affirmed where they live."
This effort is part of the Y's longstanding commitment to engage and
serve all segments of society, build bridges between communities and
advance social inclusion and equity for all. Y-USA is the national
resource office for the 2,700 YMCAs serving more than 13 million
adults and 9 million children annually in 10,000 communities
nationwide.
Despite tremendous progress over the last several years in the fight
for equality, significant challenges remain for LGBTQ people today. No
federal law explicitly protects LGBTQ people from discrimination in
employment, housing, healthcare, or public accommodations - and 31
states still lack full statewide nondiscrimination protections. LGBTQ
youth struggle with family rejection, bullying in the classroom, and
harassment in their communities. And LGBTQ people and families
continue to experience disproportionately high rates of poverty,
uninsurance, food insecurity and hate violence.
About the Biden Foundation Building on Vice President and Dr. Biden's
commitment to equality, the Biden Foundation is working to leverage
existing networks and institutions to support, serve, and advocate for
LGBTQ communities. The Biden Foundation is dedicated to working toward
a future where all people are treated with dignity and respect,
including LGBTQ people. bidenfoundation.org
About YMCA of the USA The Y is one of the nation's leading nonprofits
strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living
and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 22 million
men, women and children - regardless of age, income or background - to
nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation's
health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and
support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has
the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to
promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. ymca.net
About the Gill Foundation The Gill Foundation is one of the nation's
leading funders of efforts to secure full equality for lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. The foundation makes
tax-deductible grants to nonprofit organizations that advance equality
by doing research, educating people, developing model policy
recommendations, and working within the legal system. For more
information, please visit gillfoundation.org.
About the David Bohnett Foundation David Bohnett and the David Bohnett
Foundation are committed to improving society through social activism.
We pursue our mission by providing funding, state-of-the-art
technology and technical support to innovative organizations and
institutions that, in addition to meeting our funding guidelines,
share our vision. For more information, please visit
Media Contacts: Biden Foundation Kate Berner kberner@skdk.com /
202-464-6966
YMCA of the USA Emily Waldren media@ymca.net / 312-419-8418
View original
SOURCE YMCA of the USA
-0- 05/21/2018
CO: YMCA of the USA; Biden Foundation; Gill Foundation; David Bohnett Foundation
ST: District of Columbia
SU: NPT LGB
PRN
-- NY01015 --
0000 05/21/2018 13:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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