With Support from American Eagle and Aerie, 50
Grants Will Be Distributed Across the US in Largest Grant
Initiative from It Get Better To Date
LOS
ANGELES, June 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the
It Gets Better Project, the world's largest storytelling effort to
uplift LGBTQ+ youth, announced the recipients of their school-based
grant initiative, 50 States. 50 Grants. 5,000 Voices.
Through this initiative, middle and/or high schools in every US
state, including US territories, were given the opportunity to
submit a proposal for a grant of up to $10K to fund new school projects with the aim of
uplifting and supporting the wellbeing of local LGBTQ+ students.
Grant opportunities were made possible by the generous support of
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) through American Eagle and
Aerie customer donations from all 50 states via their Real Rewards
loyalty program, as well as in-store pin-pad promotion during Pride
Month 2021.
The It Gets Better Project announces
recipients of $500K grant benefiting
LGBTQ+ youth across the United
States.
The grant submission portal, which opened in November 2021 and closed in March
2022, allowed middle and high school students to apply in
partnership with a faculty advisor, educator, or school
administrator by preparing a proposal at
www.itgetsbetter.org/50states50grants. Fifty grants are being
awarded in 40 states plus Washington
D.C., including many traditionally conservative areas.
Submissions were received from a wide range of small rural towns,
average-sized suburbs, and large urban cities.
Grants were prioritized to schools that demonstrate a diverse
student population, have a recognized Title I status, have shown
documented support for LGBTQ+ students, and have established a
Gender and Sexuality Alliance or a similar club. The winning
projects include a school in the conservative area of Mission, TX which will be using the funds to
create a regional Queer Youth Conference; a school in Maine that is creating a Gender Sexuality
Alliance to train educators and administrators on LGBTQ+ knowledge;
a Colorado school remodeling
single-gender restrooms into gender-neutral ones; a school in
Minnesota which will offer a
LGBTQ+ history and pop culture class; and a gender-inclusive closet
providing affirming clothes for trans and gender non-conforming
students in New Mexico.
"The It Gets Better Project understands the importance of
partnering with local leaders who have an intimate understanding of
their community's needs. The 50 States. 50 Grants. 5,000
Voices. grantmaking effort places funds directly into the hands
of those who know how to allocate them effectively," says
Brian Wenke, Executive Director of
the It Gets Better Project. "This initiative strives to put power
back into the hands of young LGBTQ+ people, so they can begin to
build the world in which they want to live -- starting with their
local community. I am grateful for the support AEO brought forth to
make this possible, and I cannot wait to see the work in
action!"
"It is incredibly gratifying to know that the support of AEO and
our AE and Aerie customers is giving students across the country
the chance to create more inclusive communities within their
schools," said Jennifer Foyle,
President - Executive Creative Director, AE and Aerie. "We are so
proud of the partnership we have built with It Gets Better Project
and the positive impact our work together has upon empowering and
uplifting LGBTQ+ youth."
Grants will be awarded to the following schools (for a
detailed list of winning projects, please go to
https://itgetsbetter.org/blog/meet-the-grantees/):
Homewood, AL – Magic
City Acceptance Academy
|
Jackson, MS - Ida B
Wells APAC High School Program
|
A school in
Arizona
|
Brookfield, MO -
Brookfield High School
|
A high school in
Arkansas
|
A high school in
Missouri
|
A high school in San
Diego, California
|
Grand Island, NE -
Grand Island Senior High School
|
Oakland, CA – Fremont
High School
|
Surry, NH - Surry
Village Charter School
|
Baldwin Park, CA –
Baldwin Park High School
|
Hackensack, NJ -
Hackensack Middle School
|
Telluride, CO
–Telluride Middle High School
|
Woodstown, NJ -
Woodstown High School
|
Ansonia, CT – Ansonia
High School
|
Las Cruces, NM -
Centennial High School
|
Camden, DE – Positive
Outcomes Charter School
|
Syracuse, NY - Edward
Smith K-8 School
|
Washington D.C.. –
Center City Public Charter School - Petworth Campus
|
A school in North
Carolina
|
Tallahassee, FL –
Rickards High School
|
A high school in North
Dakota
|
Kapolei, HI –
DreamHouse 'Ewa Beach Public Charter School
|
Cleveland, OH - Campus
International High School
|
Des Plaines, IL – Maine
West High School
|
Oklahoma City, OK -
Putnam City North High School
|
A school in
Indiana
|
A high school in
Oregon
|
Carmel, IN – Carmel
High School
|
A school in
Pennsylvania
|
A high school in
Kentucky
|
A high school in Rhode
Island
|
Metairie, LA – Haynes
Academy for Advanced Studies
|
A high school in South
Dakota
|
Cape Elizabeth, ME -
Cape Elizabeth High School
|
A high school in
Nashville, Tennessee
|
Columbia, MD - Hammon
High School
|
Mission, TX – Idea
North Mission College Preparatory
|
Carver, MA - Carver
Middle High School
|
Layton, UT – Layton
High School
|
A high school in
Massachusetts
|
Newport News, VA –
Hines Middle School
|
Ypsilanti, MI - ACTech
and STEMM Middle College High School
|
Salem, VA – Salem High
School
|
Portage, MI – Portage
Northern High School
|
Richland, WA - Hanford
High School
|
Richfield, MN –
Partnership Academy
|
Racine, WI - Walden III
High School
|
|
Green Bay, WI - Edison
Middle School
|
|
A library project in
Wyoming
|
Since the beginning of their partnership in 2017, AEO has
generated more than $3 million for
the It Gets Better Project. In 2019, AEO became the It Gets Better
Project's first Legacy Partner, signifying lifetime contributions
of $1 million or more. AEO will
continue to raise funds to support LGBTQ+ youth in partnership with
the It Gets Better Project during Pride Month 2022.
Further information on upcoming projects is available at
www.itgetsbetter.org.
About the It Gets Better
Project
Launched in 2010 as the result of one of the most successful
viral video campaigns in YouTube's history, the It Gets Better
Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that strives to uplift,
empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the globe. The It Gets
Better Project provides critical support and hope to LGBTQ+ youth
around the world by leveraging the power of media to reach millions
of people each year. Its origins in storytelling and media have
expanded to include It Gets Better EDU, which exists to ensure
educators and student leaders have access to It Gets Better series
plus easy-to-use resources, information, and more wherever learning
takes place, and It Gets Better Global, our Global Affiliate
Network which can be found in 19 countries and in eight different
languages.
The It Gets Better Project received the 2012 Governor's Award
from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and has been
highlighted in a wide range of films and television programs,
including a Saturday Night Live sketch in February, 2021.
The project has garnered support from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, along with numerous
celebrities, including Kelly
Clarkson, Gabrielle Union,
Zachary Quinto, Mj Rodriguez,
Josie Totah, and Gigi Gorgeous. More
than 750,000 people have taken the It Gets Better pledge to share
messages of hope and to speak up against intolerance.
Connect with the It Gets Better Project
at www.itgetsbetter.org and join the conversation on
TikTok, Instagram and Twitter at @ItGetsBetter;
Facebook.com/ItGetsBetterProject; and
YouTube.com/ItGetsBetterProject.
About American Eagle Outfitters,
Inc.
American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE: AEO) is a leading global
specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing,
accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under
its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Our purpose is to show the
world that there's REAL power in the optimism of youth. The company
operates stores in the United
States, Canada,
Mexico, and Hong Kong, and ships to 81 countries worldwide
through its websites. American Eagle and Aerie merchandise also is
available at more than 200 international locations operated by
licensees in 33 countries. For more information, please visit
www.aeo-inc.com.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-it-gets-better-project-announces-recipients-of-500k-grant-initiative-benefiting-lgbtq-youth-301576126.html
SOURCE It Gets Better Project