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Courtesy of Valley Youth House | The LGBT Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce presents a check to Valley Youth House. Participating are, from left, Donald Flad, LGBT Business Council board; Lizabeth Kleintop, past co-chairwoman, LGBT Business Council; Randy Kimble, LGBT Business Council president; Lisa Weingartner, Valley Youth House vice president; Andrew Palomo, Valley Youth House research and evaluation coordinator; and Angela DelGrosso, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. The LGBT Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce raised $5,000 from its silent auction at its second annual gala. About 150 participants supported the "Roaring Twenties" theme gala conducted at Silver Creek Country Club in Hellertown, Northampton County. All proceeds benefited Valley Youth House, which has 18 offices and shelters and 250 apartments for independent living in 11 counties of southeastern Pennsylvania for all youth, including those who identify as LGBT. "It's donations like that that allow us to expand in both depth and breadth," said Emily A. Conners, development officer at Valley Youth House. The May donation from the LGBT Business Council was available in time for LGBT Pride Month in June. The money was spent to expand Valley Youth House's independent living program to 250 apartments from 100. "More than 40 percent of youth who experience homelessness identify as being LGBT," Conners said. Invisible homelessness Valley Youth House is working to raise awareness about LGBT youth so-called invisible homelessness with its Couches Don't Count campaign. Young volunteers are setting up pop-up installations by bringing couches to sidewalks to help get kids off the cushions. More than half of LGBT kids are "couch surfing" or "couch hopping," to avoid living on the streets, Conners said. Valley Youth House also has a camp and provides in-school counseling, life skills development, mentoring, prevention of child abuse, statewide adoption and permanency network services, and street outreach. "We serve 37,000 children, youth and families each year through our 53 programs," Conners said. "Our age range is newborns through age 24, although each program has different eligibility requirements." Valley Youth House began in 1973 as a single shelter in the Lehigh Valley. The shelter was open day and night, ensuring that vulnerable, abused and homeless youth in the community had access to counseling and a safe roof over their heads. The organization works to educate, empower and strengthen the lives of children, youth and families, and build skills that foster growth and independence. Embrace their identity Started in 2009, Valley Youth House's Pride program gives youth the opportunity to embrace their identity and overcome the obstacles presented by housing insecurities and homelessness. Pride provides housing and supportive services for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and allied youth. Youth are provided a safe place to be themselves and gain support to make the typical transitions that occur during late adolescence and early adulthood. The LGBT Business Council works as a partner with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to provide the same chamber opportunities to employee and business owner members who identify as LGBT. With about 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000 individuals, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is in the top 10 nationwide. It provides regional opportunities to its members through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money-saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives, public policy advocacy and community development enterprises. Contact Carole Duran: money@readingeagle.com. To read the whole article, click here.
Courtesy of Valley Youth House | The LGBT Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce presents a check to Valley Youth House. Participating are, from left, Donald Flad, LGBT Business Council board; Lizabeth Kleintop, past co-chairwoman, LGBT Business Council; Randy Kimble, LGBT Business Council president; Lisa Weingartner, Valley Youth House vice president; Andrew Palomo, Valley Youth House research and evaluation coordinator; and Angela DelGrosso, Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The LGBT Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce raised $5,000 from its silent auction at its second annual gala.
About 150 participants supported the "Roaring Twenties" theme gala conducted at Silver Creek Country Club in Hellertown, Northampton County.
All proceeds benefited Valley Youth House, which has 18 offices and shelters and 250 apartments for independent living in 11 counties of southeastern Pennsylvania for all youth, including those who identify as LGBT.
"It's donations like that that allow us to expand in both depth and breadth," said Emily A. Conners, development officer at Valley Youth House.
The May donation from the LGBT Business Council was available in time for LGBT Pride Month in June. The money was spent to expand Valley Youth House's independent living program to 250 apartments from 100.
"More than 40 percent of youth who experience homelessness identify as being LGBT," Conners said.
Invisible homelessness
Valley Youth House is working to raise awareness about LGBT youth so-called invisible homelessness with its Couches Don't Count campaign. Young volunteers are setting up pop-up installations by bringing couches to sidewalks to help get kids off the cushions.
More than half of LGBT kids are "couch surfing" or "couch hopping," to avoid living on the streets, Conners said.
Valley Youth House also has a camp and provides in-school counseling, life skills development, mentoring, prevention of child abuse, statewide adoption and permanency network services, and street outreach.
"We serve 37,000 children, youth and families each year through our 53 programs," Conners said. "Our age range is newborns through age 24, although each program has different eligibility requirements."
Valley Youth House began in 1973 as a single shelter in the Lehigh Valley. The shelter was open day and night, ensuring that vulnerable, abused and homeless youth in the community had access to counseling and a safe roof over their heads.
The organization works to educate, empower and strengthen the lives of children, youth and families, and build skills that foster growth and independence.
Embrace their identity
Started in 2009, Valley Youth House's Pride program gives youth the opportunity to embrace their identity and overcome the obstacles presented by housing insecurities and homelessness.
Pride provides housing and supportive services for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and allied youth. Youth are provided a safe place to be themselves and gain support to make the typical transitions that occur during late adolescence and early adulthood.
The LGBT Business Council works as a partner with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce to provide the same chamber opportunities to employee and business owner members who identify as LGBT.
With about 5,000 members who employ more than 200,000 individuals, the Chamber is the largest in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and is in the top 10 nationwide.
It provides regional opportunities to its members through business-to-business networking events and marketing products, affinity programs and exclusive, money-saving member benefits, training programs, government affairs initiatives, public policy advocacy and community development enterprises.
Contact Carole Duran: money@readingeagle.com. To read the whole article, click here.