World Suicide Prevention Day

Abbe Land, Executive Director & CEO

Today, we recognize World Suicide Prevention Day, and ask ourselves, “What can I do to save lives?” While on a worldwide scale, it may be difficult to see, we each individually have the power to make a change in someone’s life. In fact, we can have an impact on many people’s lives all at once, in our community and in our state.

Throughout September, National Suicide Prevention Month, and especially today, stand up for youth in crisis. Take action and contact your state legislators. Urge them to become a part of the solution to prevent suicide in your community. We want all schools to be safe, and to do this, our lawmakers must fund inclusive suicide prevention training and programs for educators and students. The more your local representatives hear from you, the more they will take notice of this serious issue.

Use the importance of today to start planning a peaceful rally in your community to raise awareness about suicide prevention, on September 27th, The Trevor Project Day. Let the youth in your area know that people care about their health and well-being. Organize with Trevor Ambassadors, Trevor NextGen, and local leaders to share life-affirming notes of support where your friends, family, and even strangers might find them.  

We all have the right to a fulfilling and happy life, no matter who we are or where we come from. Be a part of the movement to prevent suicide – take a stand today.

Please visit TrevorTalktoMe.org for specific information on how you can get involved during Naitonal Suicide Prevention Month. 

TrevorChat Expands to 3 Days!

TrevorChat will be expanding to Saturdays! Starting on September 29^th, young people can reach out to trained volunteers via-TrevorChat on Monday, Friday, and Saturday from 1pm – 7pm PST/4pm – 10pm EST for free, confidential, online support.

Calls to the Trevor Lifeline increase on the weekends, making Saturday one of the hightest call volume days of the week. Thanks to this new TrevorChat day, our volunteer counselors can better serve LGBTQ young people who are in need of support over the weekend, and especially those who prefer to reach out via-chat.

Saturday's expansion is part of a bigger goal to offer TrevorChat 7 days a week. With the support of the Friends of Trevor and the help of our digital volunteers, we expect to meet this goal. Since January, 68 new TrevorChat volunteers have been trained. "It is life-affirming, for me, to work on TrevorChat and to know that Trevor exists," said Stephen, a newly-trained TrevorChat volunteer. "Your work is beautiful. Thank you."

The expansion of TrevorChat depends on our amazing volunteers. That's why we need YOU to get involved today! If you are interested in volunteering with The Trevor Project, visit TheTrevorProject.org/volunteers.

TrevorChat will also be available on The Trevor Project Day, Thursday, September 27th, for a special session from 1pm – 7pm PST/4pm – 10pm EST   

Bank of America Volunteers for Trevor

Bank of America’s LGBT Pride, its employee network representing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees and their allies, has named The Trevor Project as its recipient for their 2012 corporate-volunteer engagement grant. This new partnership would not have been possible without the dedication of Matt Pisanelli, Friend of Trevor and Trevor NextGen New York Development Chair.

When Trevor Board Member, Ruben Ramirez, brought his friend and Bank of America employee Matt to a mixer for The Trevor Project in New York City, it didn't take Matt long to realize that he wanted to get involved. He promptly joined what is now Friends of Trevor, and later joined Trevor NextGen New York through Brian Dorsey, Co-Vice Chair of the Board. Since then, Matt has found more ways to support Trevor's mission.

As a key volunteer, Matt nominated The Trevor Project for the 2012 grant offered by Bank of America's LGBT Pride leadership committee. "Trevor was the clear winner," said Matt. "It's a well-managed organization that we felt comfortable investing in. But the real selling point was the wide range of volunteer opportunities available. With so many options, especially digital ones like Ask Trevor and TrevorChat, it meant that any bank employee, anywhere, could volunteer.

The Bank of America grant is a starting point for future corporate-volunteer engagement partnerships withTrevor. To date, over 50 bank employees have gone through the volunteer process, which Matt recognizes as, "a wonderful success."

"I'm looking forward to sustaining, growing, and expanding this collaboration throughout the coming years," Matt said. "Let's keep the momentum going."

If your corporation would like to partner with The Trevor Project, please contact Shawn Ingram, Development Director, at Shawn.Ingram@TheTrevorProject.org

Donor Spotlight: Dr. Ramon Perez-Egana

In 2010, as the media intensified coverage of LGBT youth in crisis and the tragedy of suicide, Dr. Ramon Perez-Egana began searching for a way to make a difference.

As a gay man who had grown up in Lima, a conservative town in Peru, it was important that his contribution benefited LGBT youth. "My family and friends always made fun of the LGBT characters on TV," said Dr. Perez-Egana. "I don't even think I learned the word 'gay' until I was 21, maybe 22. I only knew that I was different, and that I had no one to relate to."

He moved to America and began researching LGBT non-profits. Eventually, he came across The Trevor Project. "I had seen a PSA with Daniel Radcliff a few years ago, and read about The Trevor Project in a few LGBT magazines," he said. "I remember saying to myself: 'this is the kind of group the world should have.'" He had finally made his choice, and became a Friend of Trevor in 2011.

Dr. Perez-Egana is now a medical professional living ina small town in California, and is coming up on his 2nd year as a Friend of Trevor. "Before, in Peru, I couldn't really contribute," said Dr. Perez-Egana. "Now, 8 years after I've come to America, I have the resources to help LGBT teens."

Trevor Co-Founder Publishes New Book

The Trevor Project’s Co-Founder James Lecesne’s new book, “Trevor: A Novella” and his featured biography in “Everyday Heroes: 50 Americans Changing the World One Nonprofit at a Time” are making headlines!

Teen Vogue’s Sierra Tishgart interviewed James about “Trevor: A Novella,” a re-vamped version of the original Trevor story, touching upon Trevor’s beginnings, its expansion since the 90s, and who should read the new book: “It's for anyone who's figuring out who they are—and I think that's everyone at the adolescent age. What began as a story that's very specific, about a kid who realizes he's gay, is really a story about understanding what makes you, you.” Stay-tuned for the book’s release date on September 25^th!

Shortly after “Trevor: A Novella” is released, an inspirational book called “Everyday Heroes” is set to hit the shelves on October 23^rd. The thick volume features 50 of America’s most notable nonprofit leaders and founders. In his chapter, James describes his own Trevor-like story, and shares how the organization came to be.

“[Peggy, Randy and I] didn’t start out to be activists,” James explains, “Just by doing what we loved to do, it took us in this direction. But we’re not unique. Everybody has that ability to make some difference, even if they’re not even aware of what it could be... This whole thing started from a story. I’m a big, big believer in the power of a story to change the world.”

James will be doing a "Trevor" event book launch and performance of the his stage piece on October 8th at LA MAMA, the place where Trevor was born. 

Talk to Me! - Trevor's Campaign for Conversation

Get involved today! (TrevorTalkToMe.org)