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The Nan Leekley LGBTQ Youth Fund
This Endowed Fund was established in 2021 to support teen mental health, crisis intervention, and suicide prevention for students of Stillwater Area High School who either identify as LGBTQ or have LGBTQ family members.
In addition to mental health support, the Fund may also aid staff and/or parents with acceptance education, support social clubs (such as GSA), and assist with housing and employment resources for at-risk teens.
The Nan Leekley LGBTQ Youth Fund was created in collaboration with The Partnership Plan (a nonprofit organization with a mission to connect the community and its resources to Stillwater Area Public Schools in support of exceptional learning experiences for all students).
This Relatively New Fund Is Already Making A Difference
In 2022, this fund allowed 2 Stillwater Area School District staff members - Eric Anderson; the District's Achievement and Integration specialist, and Brandon Auge; Lake Elmo Elementary teacher - to attend an LGBTQ+ Professional Development for Educators project. This was a collaborations between Stillwater's Equity Committee and OutFront Minnesota's Educational Equity Department. The programs aims to advance LGBTQ+ inclusivity in classrooms, schools and the broader district.
Our Students Deserve Support and Care
Lesbian and gay students in MN are 4x more likely to struggle with drug and alcohol addiction and undergo treatment. Source: The PFund Foundation/Mpls
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As a result of family rejection, discrimination, criminalization and a host of other factors, LGBTQ youth represent as much as 40% of the homeless youth population. Source: The Trevor Project
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39% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months, with more than half of transgender and non-binary youth having seriously considered. Source: Natl Survey on LBGTQ Youth Mental Health/Trevor Project
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Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth who reported higher levels of family rejection during adolescence were 8.4 x more likely to report having attempted suicide, 5.9 x more likely to report high levels of depression, 3.4 x more likely to use illegal drugs and 3.4 x more likely to report having engaged in unprotected sex -- compared to peers from families that reported no family rejection. Source: The Trevor Project
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As the United State's health protection agency, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recognize that LGBTQ youth have unique health risk factors that can be mitigated through support, acceptance and care. SSSSSource: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm
See the Pioneer Press, May 2021 article by Mary Divine highlighting Nan's personal and professinal experiences which led to the establishment of this fund.
Whether teens identify as LGBTQ or have LGBTQ family members - social ties, acceptance and support are important for all teens.
"It's my hope is that this Fund will help make Stillwater Area High School a place where all youth feel safe, heard, seen, and cared for. Stillwater could lead the way for other schools in the Valley - keeping at-risk teens from becoming mired in solitude and hopelessness."
--Nan Leekley
Retired District 834 Employee
Thank You
Donations to this Endowed Fund will be distributed according to the Fund's intent by The Partnership Plan.
This philanthropic fund is under management of the St. Croix Valley Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization accredited by the Community Foundation National Standards Board and the Charities Review Council.
Donations to this fund are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. You will receive an acknowledgment of your gift which serves as your receipt for tax purposes.
TAX
Deductible
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Copyright 2023 St. Croix Valley Foundation