TrevorLIVE Event Featuring Wanda Sykes, Neil Patrick Harris, Lucy Liu, Rob Thomas and More Helped Raise Funds and Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 17, 2014 -- On Monday, June 16, The Trevor Project presented “TrevorLIVE” in New York hosted by Wanda Sykes at the Marriott Marquis. The evening centered on a fantastic show that was directed by Adam Shankman. The Trevor Project also honored three visionaries who have made a difference in the LGBT community. Arianna Huffington was presented with the Trevor Hero Award, presented by Neil Patrick Harris. The Chief Information Officer and partner at Goldman Sachs, Marty Chavez, accepted the Trevor 20/20 Visionary Award on behalf of Goldman Sachs, which was presented by Zac Posen. The Trevor Youth Innovator Award presented by Wells Fargo was given to YouTube sensation Tyler Oakley. This annual red carpet event benefits the life-saving, life-affirming work of The Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) teens and young adults.
“TrevorLIVE gives us the opportunity to recognize those who have helped support LGBTQ youth. It allows us to bring together hundreds of people to advocate for the hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ youth who still need The Trevor Project,” said Abbe Land, Executive Director and CEO of The Trevor Project. “I am always inspired by the performers, celebrities, and leaders who come to TrevorLIVE in support of our life-saving mission. Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this evening a spectacular success.”
Tona Brown, the first African American transgender person to play at Carnegie Hall, wowed the audience with her musical performance from her new album, “This Is Who I Am.” Cheyenne Jackson, accompanied by The Broadway Inspirational Voices, energized the room with his powerful cover of “Somebody to Love,” by Queen. The show also included performances by Rob Thomas, Caissie Levy, Jeremy Jordan, and Montego Glover. Celebrity guests included Zachary Quinto, Lucy Liu, Jane Lynch, Ellen Page, David Burtka, Frank De Julio, Rachael Harris and more.
The Trevor Hero Award honored Arianna Huffington for her longstanding support of the LGBT community as an ally, and as founder of the prominent media outlet, Huffington Post Gay Voices. Her mission to raise awareness about the importance of taking care of one’s mental health, and of living authentically to achieve your dreams, is motivating to youth everywhere, and aligns with The Trevor Project’s goals as the organization seeks to empower LGBTQ youth to dream for the future.
“This movement has the wind at its back because our times are calling for all of us -- whether LGBTQ or straight -- to live our lives authentically, to be true to ourselves, to stop hiding, pretending or living in the shadows, and instead tap into the amazing possibilities that each one of us embodies in all of our uniqueness,” said Huffington when she accepted the Hero Award.
The Trevor 20/20 Visionary Award honored Goldman Sachs as an inclusive leader in the business world. The powerhouse firm empowers their employees to be themselves in an inclusive environment that allows them to grow personally and professionally. Goldman proudly supports their LGBT employee networks, as well as their Ally Initiative. Since 2000, Goldman has offered domestic partnership benefits, and for the past 7 years, the firm has ensured their benefits are transgender-inclusive. Goldman earned a score of 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for 10 straight years.
The Trevor Youth Innovator Award honored Tyler Oakley, who has become one of the most influential LGBT video bloggers of the digital age. Through his pop culture commentary and insight on current LGBT issues, Tyler engages a national audience of LGBTQ youth and their allies, reminding each one that they matter, and that they are not alone. Tyler’s impact is also seen through his continuous support of The Trevor Project. In 2010, Tyler launched a youth-focused video submission project called “Be the Change,” which inspired hundreds of LGBTQ youth to share their vision for the future. Since then, Tyler has co-hosted the TrevorLIVE red carpet pre-show since 2011, participated in trainings with the Trevor Youth Advisory Council, and personally raised more than $500,000 as his birthday gift to Trevor.
TrevorLIVE New York was presented by Wells Fargo. The Chairs of TrevorLIVE NY were James Adams of Schreck, Rose, Dapello & Adams and Beth Brooks of Ernst & Young, (2011 Trevor 20/20 Visionary Award). Honorary Co-Chairs of TrevorLIVE NY were Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Justin Nikita, Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka, and Zachary Quinto. Event Vice-Chairs are Phil Armstrong, Brian Dorsey, Ralph Furlo, Matt Schwartz, David Suk, and Keola Whittaker.
For more information about the event, please visit http://www.TheTrevorProject.org/TrevorLIVENY.
ABOUT THE TREVOR PROJECT
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its accredited, free and confidential phone, instant message and text messaging crisis intervention services. A leader and innovator in suicide prevention, The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, best practice suicide prevention educational trainings, resources for youth and adults, and advocacy initiatives. Learn more at http://www.TheTrevorProject.org.
Laura McGinnis, The Trevor Project, http://www.TheTrevorProject.org, +1 (323) 423-7405, [email protected]
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