Applications are open for 50 States. 50
Grants. 5,000 Voices with $690K to be
awarded to school projects uplifting and empowering LGBTQ+
youth.
LOS
ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2023 /CNW/ -- The It Gets Better
Project, the world's largest storytelling effort to uplift LGBTQ+
youth, has opened applications for year two of its 50 States. 50
Grants. 5,000 Voices grants initiative. Grants of up to
$10K each will be awarded to at least
one middle or high school in every US state, including US
territories, and fund projects that uplift and support the
wellbeing of local LGBTQ+ students. This year, the project will
expand into Canada under the name
It Gets Better - Youth Grants | It Gets Better - Bourse
Jeunesse, with grants awarded to at least one middle or high
school in every Canadian province and territory. As with the
initiative's inaugural year, the project is made possible by
support from American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) through American
Eagle and Aerie customer donations in the US and Canada via their Real Rewards loyalty program,
as well as an in-store pin-pad promotion during Pride Month
2022.
"50 States. 50 Grants. Should serve as a
reality check to anyone trying to stand in the way of
progress."
Grant submission portals in the United
States and Canada are open
now and will be accepting applications through March 15, 2023. Students are invited to apply in
partnership with a faculty advisor, educator, or school
administrator.
Recipients of the 2022 grant opportunity were announced last
year during Pride Month and feature a wide range of projects aimed
at making things better for LGBTQ+ students in schools. Winning
projects include a school in Texas
organizing a regional Queer Youth Conference; a school in
Hawaii helping parents understand
the importance of advocating for LGBTQ+students by centering Native
Hawaiian knowledge and education around māhū (third gender)
identity; a Colorado school
remodeling single-gender restrooms into gender-neutral ones; and a
TK school; and a school in North
Carolina creating an art therapy program for LGBTQ+
students. You can read more about the 2022 grant recipients on
itgetsbetter.org.
"At a time when LGBTQ+ youth are being inappropriately drawn
into political discourse, 50 States. 50 Grants. 5,000 Voices
should serve as a reality check to any individual or institution
trying to stand in the way of progress," said Brian Wenke, Executive Director of the It Gets
Better Project. "The It Gets Better Project's sole purpose is to
empower LGBTQ+ young people to realize and fulfill their greatest
potential. What better way to ignite that spark than by giving
youth the power to create the world in which they want to live.
LGBTQ+ youth have the energy and the passion to drive true, lasting
change. This initiative provides the means to get them
started."
Since the beginning of their partnership in 2017, AEO has
generated more than $3.8 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.
About the It Gets Better
Project
The It Gets Better Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
that strives to uplift, empower and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the
globe. Created in 2010 as the result of one of the most successful
viral video campaigns in YouTube's history, 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. The project has expanded its origins in
storytelling and media to include educational resources through It
Gets Better EDU and reaches 19 countries outside of the U.S.
through It Gets Better Global.
The project has garnered support from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, and former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton, along with
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 speak up against intolerance. Please visit
www.itgetsbetter.org for more information.
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.
Contact:
Ross von Metzke
ross.vonmetzke@itgetsbetter.org
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-it-gets-better-project-announces-year-two-of-major-grants-initiative-supporting-lgbtq-students-in-the-united-states-and-canada-301724115.html
SOURCE It Gets Better Project