DeFrank - News - Yahoo! for the Billy DeFrank LGBT Youth Program


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News – October 30th, 2007

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Yahoo! for the Billy DeFrank LGBT Youth Program

The Billy DeFrank Center secures funding from the Yahoo! Employee Foundation

San Jose, October 30, 2007 - San Jose, CA, The Billy DeFrank Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center in San Jose, California is the proud recipient of a grant of $5600 from the Yahoo! Employee Foundation (YEF), in Sunnyvale, California. The grant was made possible as a result of Howard Jaffe, a Yahoo! Inc. employee, who “championed” funding for our organization. The funds will support the DeFrank Center’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex youth and their allies (LGBTQQIA) ages 13-19 in Santa Clara County. This program provides LGBTQQIA students with leadership and advocacy opportunities through its shOut program.

The support from the YEF grant will enable the Billy DeFrank Center to reach LGBTQQIA youth and help them to develop skills to advocate for improved student safety, protections from homophobic remarks and discriminatory incidents on school campuses. “90% of gay and lesbian youth report harassment and feeling harassed in their schools.” said Aejaie Sellers executive director at the Billy DeFrank Center. Over 150 individuals are served by the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center Youth program, which provided them with opportunities to make health choices about their lives and feel included in their community. “We are very excited to receive this support from YEF and look forward to our continued partnership in the future.”

The GSA and shOut program provides an outlet for students to share ideas, network, develop strategies and create events designed to encourage understanding and tolerance. Typically, LGBTQQIA high school students receive a lower quality of high school education due to harassment and discrimination which inhibits their ability to learn. The GSA will hold quarterly summits for the youth of our community and their allies to train them in leadership skills to advocate for equal treatment and acceptance for members of the LGBTQQIA community,”

Howard Jaffe, the Yahoo! employee who sponsored this grant, has been involved with the Center for a number of years and is a current member of the Center’s Board of Directors. Howard states, “Creating opportunities for young people to positively engaged the community with leadership skills that foster understanding, equality and tolerance is an important goal for the DeFrank Center and YEF.”

About the Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF)
Started in 1999 by Yahoo!’s co-founders as a way for employees to personally give back to their communities, YEF offers three major opportunities for participation: donating to the YEF Fund, championing an organization to get a grant from YEF and volunteering through YEF. YEF is entirely employee-driven. All of our funds are donated by Yahoo! employees, all grant recipients championed by our employees, and all YEF activities are run by a volunteer committee of employees. YEF also enables employees to increase their contributions exponentially by championing their favorite community causes. YEF champions who donate at least $50 a year can secure up to $30,000 a year for the charity they support. Since it’s inception, YEF has donated over $2.7 million to non-profits championed by employees. http://careers.yahoo.com/yef.html

About the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center:
Founded in 1981, the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center addresses the needs and rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of all ages and backgrounds in Silicon Valley. The DeFrank Center provides a broad range of wellness, social and recreational activities and emotional support services to approximately 400 visitors each week. The DeFrank Center is a 501(c)3, federally registered, tax-exempt organization, and receives over 21,000 contacts and requests for service each year (either in person, via phone or online).

This media release is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) View/Download>

Media Contact:
Dawn M. Wright
(408) 293-2429 x 117 Direct
(408) 504-6103 Cellular

Press Releases

2007

February 26, 2008
Assessor, CPA to provide FREE Tax Workshop for Domestic Partners More>

January 7, 2008
The Billy DeFrank Center Participates in FLARE More>

October 30, 2007
Yahoo! for the Billy DeFrank LGBT Youth Program More>

October 10, 2007
The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center Receives an eBay Foundation Grant More>

September 17, 2007
DeFrank Center Urges Schwarzenegger to Sign Marriage Equality Bill More>

August 17, 2007
DeFrank Center Appoints Olivia Maynard as New Communications Director More>

July 19, 2007
DeFrank Center Secures $4,000 Grant from the NVIDIA Foundation More>

July 18, 2007
DeFrank Center Secures $4,921 Grant from the Endowment Fund of the Rotary Club of San Jose More>

July 9, 2007
DeFrank Center Receives $15,000 for HIV Test Counseling Program More>

June 21, 2007
DeFrank Center Expands HIV Testing Program More>

May 24, 2007
DeFrank Center Secures $20,000 Grant from the Horizons Foundation More>

May 3 , 2007
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 Passes in the House of Representatives More>

May 1 , 2007
DeFrank Center Secures $10,000 Grant from the Safeway Foundation More>

April 19 , 2007
DeFrank Center Receives $2,500 Grant from Qualcomm More>

April 5 , 2007
DeFrank Youth Organize Breaking the Silence March and Rally More>

March 9 , 2007
Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act Reintroduced in the California State Assembly More>

March 1 , 2007
DeFrank Center Opens its 26th Year by Unveiling a New Mission Statement More>

February 27
DeFrank Center to Host Weekly Senior Saturday Brunch More>

February 16
DeFrank Center Appalled by Tim Hardaway’s Homophobic Comments More>

February 14
DeFrank Center Adds Second Day of HIV Testing More>

February 13
DeFrank Center Communications Director Speaks About Committment Ceremony on “The Quake” More>

February 1
DeFrank Center Appoints Kevin Nguyen as Health and Wellness Coordinator More>

January 31
DeFrank Center to Host Valentine’s Day Commitment Ceremony at the Government Office of Santa Clara County More>

January 24
DeFrank Center Receives $10,000 Grant from Gilead Sciences More>

2006

December 11
DeFrank Center Receives $40,000 Grant for Senior Services Program More>

December 1
World AIDS Day Honored at the DeFrank Center More>

November 17
DeFrank Center to Host Transgender Day of Remembrance More>

November 8
DeFrank Center Executive Director to Appear on “The Montel Williams Show” on Friday, November 10, 2006 More>

October 26
DeFrank Center Secures $2,700 Grant from the Intuit Foundation More>

October 11
DeFrank Center Honors National Coming Out Day More>

October 10
DeFrank Center Executive Director Aejaie Sellers Denounces Presumed Link Between Homosexuality and Pedophilia More>

October 9
DeFrank Center Selected by Santa Clara County Department of Public Health to be an Alternative HIV Testing Site More>

September 28
California Governor Signs Gwen Araujo Justice for Victims Act into Law More>

September 27
DeFrank Center to Host San Jose Mayoral Candidate Forum More>

September 7
California Governor Vetoes Bias-Free Curriculum Act More>

September 1
DeFrank Center Expands Hours to Better Accommodate Community Needs More>

August 23
DeFrank Center Hosts ‘Beyond Brokeback: Denim and Diamonds’ Fundraiser More>

August 8
DeFrank Center Raises over $24,000 at San Francisco AIDS Walk More>

July 28
DeFrank Center Holds Summer Cruise Garden Party More>

July 14
DeFrank Center Begins Series of Breast and Cervical Health Awareness Workshops More>

July 5
DeFrank Center to Host Third Annual LGBT Youth Prom More>

June 28
DeFrank Center Receives $10,000 Grant for HIV Counseling and Testing Center More>

June 27
Tuesday Marks 37th Anniversary of Stonewall Riots More>

June 26
National HIV Testing Day Acknowledged at the DeFrank Center More>

June 14
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors Include $375,000 for Expansion of HIV Counseling and Testing Programs in 2007 Fiscal Budget More>

June 14
DeFrank Center Receives $15,000 Grant for the AIDSNet Sentry Program More>

June 12
DeFrank Center Secures $10,000 Grant from the Safeway Foundation More>

June 5
Federal Marriage Amendment Re-Introduced in the United States Senate More>

May 24
DeFrank Center Executive Director Aejaie Sellers Addresses Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ Health and Hospital Committee More>

May 22
DeFrank Center Secures $10,000 Grant from the Horizons Foundation More>

May 18
DeFrank Center 25th Anniversary Gala Raises Over $60,000 More>

May 16
DeFrank Center Honored with Commendation from United States Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren More>

May 15
DeFrank Center to Serve as Polling Place for Tuesday, June 6th 2006 Gubernatorial Primary Election More>

May 12
DeFrank Center Named as a Grand Marshal for the 2006 San Jose Gay Pride Parade and Festival More>

May 3
DeFrank Center Honored with Commendation From the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors More>

April 20
ALZA Corporation Donates $2,000 to the DeFrank Center’s Youth Services Program More>

April 7
DeFrank Center to Serve as the Organization Grand Marshal for the 2006 San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade and Celebration More>

April 3
‘Many Faces… One Community’ DeFrank Center Hosts 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, April 29, 2006 More>

April 3
Crab Carnivale Raises Over $7,000 for Silicon Valley LGBT Youth More>

March 31
DeFrank Center Executive Director Aejaie Sellers Addresses the Fifth Annual César Chávez Commemorative Breakfast More>

March 20
Artemis Volunteers and Sisterspirit Bookstore Sponsor Beautification Day at the DeFrank Center More>

March 17
Former DeFrank Center Interim Executive Director Honored with Commendation from the San Jose City Council More>

March 1
DeFrank Center Celebrates 25 Years of Providing Leadership for a Just and Compassionate Silicon Valley More>

February 28
Los Altos City Council Decision Bans Proclamation for Gay Pride More>

February 23
DeFrank Center Appoints Aejaie Sellers as New Executive Director More>

February 10
Interim Executive Director Donates Entire Salary Back to the DeFrank Center More>

January 31
DeFrank Center to Sponsor Film at the San Jose Jewish Film Festival More>

January 27
DeFrank Center Launches HIV/STD Counseling and Testing Program on February 1st, 2006 More>

January 10
DeFrank Center Volunteer to Receive Mover of Mountains Award from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Association of Santa Clara Valley More>

January 9
DeFrank Center to Host Santa Clara County District Attorney Candidate Forum More>

January 4
DeFrank Center to Sponsor ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ Pancake Breakfast More>

2005

December 12
DeFrank Center to Host Youth Winter Dance More>

December 12
DeFrank Center to Sponsor Special Holiday Luncheon for Lesbian and Gay Seniors More>

December 9
County Supervisor Jim Beall Calls for Permanent HIV Testing Site at the DeFrank Center More>

December 1
World AIDS Day Honored at the DeFrank Center More>

November 14
DeFrank Center Appoints Clark Williams as Interim Executive Director More>

November 2
Executive Director Patrick Soricone to Leave the DeFrank Center After Three Outstanding Years of Accomplishments More>

October 18
The Billy DeFrank Center Re-Opens the Bohnett Cyber Center More>

October 11
Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center Announces Project Rainbow: The Quest for a Permanent Roof More>

October 5
Intel and Rebuilding Together Silicon Valley Celebrate Make A Difference Day at the DeFrank Center More>

September 27
Cisco LGBT Employee Group to Host BBQ for the DeFrank Center More>

September 22
DeFrank Center Announced as a Beneficiary of the 7th Annual OutNow Anniversary Dinner More>

September 20
Resolution to Support the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (AB 849) Passes San Jose City Council More>

September 12
Verdicts in Araujo Murder Trial Met With Mixed Reactions More>

September 7
DeFrank Center Hosts Hurricane Katrina Relief Fundraiser More>

September 7
The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (AB 849) Passes Assembly More>

September 6
American Airlines Increases Commitment to the Billy DeFrank Center More>

September 1
Billy DeFrank Center Participating in the Macy’s Passport In-Store More>

August 1
Summer Cruise Party Sets Sail More>

2004

November 4
Kid Friendly Fun Expands at the DeFrank Center More>

2003

September 22
DeFrank Center Sponsors National Coming Out Day Event More>

2002

November 15
DeFrank Center Elects New Board Members More>

2001

November 13
DeFrank Center Elects Three Board Members More>

November 13
DeFrank Center Breaks Ground December 1st on New Facility More>

June 26
DeFrank Center Receives Congressional Tribute: 20th Anniversary Recognized by 107th Congress More>

June 4
DeFrank Center Adopts New Hours of Operation More>

February 20
DeFrank Center Website Receives Bay Area Award More>

January 29
DeFrank Center Sports New Logo More>

2000

November 9
DeFrank Center Elects Three Board Members More>

October 5
DeFrank Center Launches $5.5 Million Dollar Capital Campaign More>

July 27
Results of Santa Clara County Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Needs Assessment Released More>

1999

November 6
DeFrank Center Suffers Fire Damage at Stockton Building More>