Union Bank and KQED Honor Two Bay Area Local Heroes During LGBT Pride Month
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (PRWEB) June 24, 2014 -- In celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month and as part of its ongoing commitment to cultural diversity and responsible banking, Union Bank, N.A., has partnered with KQED to honor two inspirational individuals as local heroes. The 2014 LGBT Pride Month honorees are: Cassie Blume, program coordinator for the LGBTQ Youth Space, and Seth Kilbourn, executive director of Openhouse. Both will be recognized in June at a private celebration with their families and executives from KQED and Union Bank.
Since 1995, KQED and Union Bank have collaborated on the Local Heroes program and recognized more than 100 honorees. The program pays tribute to exemplary leaders who are making a difference and enriching the lives of others by improving their workplace, community, region and the world at large. The 2014 LGBT Pride Month honorees demonstrate a shared commitment to providing their communities with the tools to thrive in today’s changing world.
In addition to the LGBT local heroes, honorees were identified during Black History Month (February); Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (May) and will also be recognized during Latino Heritage Month (September/October).
“The local heroes exemplify Union Bank’s core values of diversity and giving back, and we celebrate them for their tireless work in the community,” said Union Bank Senior Executive Vice President Pierre P. Habis, head of Community and Private Banking. “Through their dedication, from empowering future leaders to providing housing and services to seniors, our honorees demonstrate the transformative power of education and engagement in society.”
“KQED is honored to continue our long-term partnership with Union Bank and celebrate these two amazing individuals who are working within the LGBT community to make a difference,” said KQED President John Boland. “KQED will continue its celebration of LGBT Pride Month with programming and community events throughout June that highlight the historical and modern-day achievements of LGBT individuals.”
The 2014 honorees for LGBT Pride Month are:
Cassie Blume is the program coordinator for the LGBTQ Youth Space, a community drop-in center and mental health program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and ally youth and young adults. Youth Space has served as a place of safety and support for hundreds of youth throughout Santa Clara County. Previously, Ms. Blume managed the youth and volunteer programs at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center and completed internships with Equality California and the LGBT Community Center of New York City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in community studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and a master’s of public administration from San Jose State University.
Seth Kilbourn is executive director of Openhouse, a non-profit organization that provides housing, community programs and services for LGBT seniors. As the former political and policy director of Equality California, Mr. Kilbourn managed a high-profile statewide public education campaign supporting same-sex marriage. Additionally, he was national field director at the Human Rights Campaign, the country’s largest LGBT advocacy group in Washington, D.C. He started his public service career as a presidential management intern and HIV/AIDS policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Mr. Kilbourn earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan.
KQED offers a wide range of LGBT Pride Month programming during June. For more information or to nominate a future local hero, visit kqed.org/community/heritage/. To learn more about the Local Heroes program, please also visit unionbank.com/heroes.
About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest rated public television services and a leader in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. Visit kqed.org for more information.
About UnionBanCal Corporation & Union Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in San Francisco, UnionBanCal Corporation is a financial holding company with assets of $107.2 billion at March 31, 2014. Its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A., provides an array of financial services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, and major corporations. The bank operated 422 branches in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Illinois, New York and Georgia, as well as 2 international offices, on March 31, 2014. UnionBanCal Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Union Bank is a proud member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, one of the world’s largest financial organizations. In July 2013, American Banker Magazine and the Reputation Institute ranked Union Bank #1 for reputation among its customers. Visit http://www.unionbank.com for more information.
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Maria Powley, Union Bank, http://www.unionbank.com, +1 (213) 236-4146, [email protected]
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