BAGLY youth in 2011 archive photo. Photo: TRT Archives/Glenn Koetzner
BAGLY is the proud recipient of a generous challenge gift from Robert Kraft
BOSTON, Mass.—The Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth has teamed up with Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, to build a strong and enduring infrastructure for LGBTQ youth leadership. Kraft has pledged to match up to $100,000 of new or increased funding that BAGLY receives in response to his call to action.
“It’s not about tomorrow’s LGBTQ leaders,” said Grace Sterling Stowell, BAGLY’s Executive Director,”it’s about young LGBTQ people who are already leading. Mr. Kraft’s gift is a clarion call to all communities that the time to meaningfully support LGBTQ youth is now. We hope everyone will join Mr. Kraft in his support of these amazing and resilient young people.” [pullquote]“It’s not about tomorrow’s LGBTQ leaders,” said Grace Sterling Stowell, BAGLY’s Executive Director,”it’s about young LGBTQ people who are already leading. Mr. Kraft’s gift is a clarion call to all communities that the time to meaningfully support LGBTQ youth is now. We hope everyone will join Mr. Kraft in his support of these amazing and resilient young people.”[/pullquote]
LGBTQ youth throughout Massachusetts will have the opportunity to participate in advanced leadership summits, trainings with high-profile activists and LGBTQ leaders, and benefit from BAGLY’s statewide network of LGBTQ youth groups, known as the AGLY Network.
Twenty LGBTQ youth leaders will be chosen annually to participate in BAGLY’s new Advanced Leadership Training Fellowship, which will include opportunities to attend and present at national conferences, run statewide trainings for other LGBTQ youth, and participate in multiple opportunities to support their professional development.
Mr. Kraft’s support of the LGBTQ community is well documented, but this is the first time he’s made a gift of this size to a LGBTQ youth organization. When asked what precipitated a gift of this size to BAGLY, Mr. Kraft stated: “I have been impressed with the immediate results and the lifelong impact that BAGLY is creating for LGBTQ youth. I’m glad to be able to help support BAGLY in their mission of social justice, and helping to develop this generation of LGBTQ youth leaders.”
BAGLY is a youth-led, adult-supported non-profit organization committed to social justice, and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the LGBTQ youth community.
[From a News Release]
