Dear John,

My name is Sophia Arredondo, and I am GLSEN’s Director of Education & Youth Programs. I have some exciting news to share with you today.

GLSEN Board Member Todd Spiewak and his husband Jim Parsons have agreed to match up to $125,000 worth of donations through the end of this month!! This means every dollar you donate through December 31, 2020 will be matched by Todd & Jim -- which means your gift will make twice the impact.

GIVE NOW [[link removed]]

Your gift means I can dream even bigger about the work we want to accomplish in 2021 with and for LGBTQ+ youth. This includes programs that help create:

* Safe spaces for LGBTQ+ students

* LGBTQ+-specific resources and trainings for educators

* Affirming K-12 classrooms for students everywhere

When I think about what additional resources could mean to the LGBTQ+ youth that we serve, I think about the potential of the newly formed National GSA Leadership Coalition, our youth leadership program. The program is open to any student in K-12 schools looking to build their leadership skills and who want to start or sustain their GSA club. Students who are eager to make change in their school communities gather virtually each month to strategize how to build safe and inclusive schools while addressing racial, gender, disability, and economic justice issues impacting LGBTQ+ students in and outside of school.

In particular, I think of one inspiring student’s story: Aryn Bucci-Mooney. Aryn started to question his gender identity in the eighth grade and decided to transition. His parents, who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community, were supportive and affirming.

Because his family was supportive, it was tougher than he imagined when teammates on his soccer team were not. He eventually switched over to the wrestling team for a more welcoming environment, and Aryn joined his local GLSEN youth chapter.

Now, he is the leader of that group and is part of the National Student Council. Aryn, unlike so many students, had the support of his family. But GLSEN gave him what other groups didn’t: the chance to lead.

Will you give a gift -- that makes twice the impact -- to help us support students like Aryn in 2021? [[link removed]]

Thank you to each and every one of you for your support, and thank you to Todd and Jim for their generous match commitment.

With your help, we can make a real difference for LGBTQ+ youth in their schools -- whether they’re in virtual classrooms or back together at desks -- in 2021.

Sophia Arredondo
she/her/hers

www.GLSEN.org [[link removed]]
GLSEN Inc. | 110 William Street | 30th Floor | New York, NY 10038 | 212-727-0135 | [email protected]

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