Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn.
Nellie Mae’s Response for Comment on Centering Joy: Celebrating LGBTQIA + Youth and their Allies Grant
Last week, Epoch Times and Fox News Digital reached out about our grantee, Bangor High School’s use of Centering Joy: Celebrating LGBTQIA + Youth and their Allies open Rapid Response grant. Nellie Mae was requested to provide comment on our grant dollars being utilized to pay a specific guest speaker for talking about their experience growing up gay as well as the content on their public social account.
In September of 2022, Nellie Mae issued a grant to Bangor High School for the purpose of “supporting projects that center joy and provide space for LGBTQIA+ youth to take a deep breath, to celebrate, to rejuvenate, to connect with allies, to experience solace and community, to belong and be affirmed in their full humanity, and to build a vision for the future.” Aligned to philanthropic best practices and use of general operating support, Nellie Mae Education Foundation trusts schools and district partners to vet speakers, vendors, and other consultants in accordance with their authorizing structure. We stand with our grantees and partners in our unwavering commitment to invest in community transformation and partnerships that advance schools as places where every young person is accepted, valued, and supported in their learning and development.