Winter/Spring 2010 Upcoming Volunteer Events Volunteer Opportunities Helpline Update
TREVOR HELPLINE COUNSELORS LISTEN AND LEARN
All Thanks and All Cheers at Cracked Xmas 12
During the time it takes for you to read this article, someone who is feeling alone and without support will pick up the phone and reach out to a stranger for help. They may need a kind ear, a friend who can feel their pain, or someone just to tell them that they are not alone. The Trevor Project's team of helpline counselors commit themselves to being that someone. They make that commitment not only because they want to save lives, but because they are armed with only the best training and support The Trevor Project can provide.
With a touching blend of laughter, tears and inspiration, The Trevor Project hosted this years Cracked Xmas event on December 6 at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles. Out actor Neil Patrick Harris and AT&T were both honorees commended for serving as inspirations to LGBTQ youth.
Counselors receive over 40 hours of classroom training, covering a wide variety of critical issues. During training, each individual is also mentored one-on-one by current Counselors who work with them on role plays, discuss how their training is going, and nurture them in their efforts. "The Trevor Project provides the training necessary to prepare you for answering calls, along with one-on-one mentoring by current counselors and refresher training in-services throughout the year", said Bryan Keller, a Helpline counselor since 2006. "The helpline counselors are men and women, parents, students, straight, gay and in-between, from diverse backgrounds – which we think is absolutely essential since we have a varied group of youth and their parents calling the Helpline." Continued training is held year-round on issues relevant to LGBTQ youth. The Helpline counselor Subcommittee was also recently reinstated with a new mission of providing ongoing support, education, and training, while assessing the needs of the Helpline counselors as a group.
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The event was as star-studded as ever with musical performances by the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus, Vanessa Carlton and Marc Shaiman. A stand-up comedy act by Carol Leifer was followed by an auction with hostess Caroline Rhea. Incredible auction items from lavish trips to a walk-on role on the hit television show, Modern Family, enticed attendees to bid and open their wallets for a great cause. Ending the night, Survivor's Jeff Probst introduced a video tribute to Neil Patrick Harris, and presented him with the 2009 Trevor Life Award. Harris, admitting to being nervous about receiving this award, humbly responded "It brings me kind of full circle in a weird and wonderful way." He added with a smile, "Being the real, authentic me has turned out quite swell. I have since enjoyed the most successful years of my life." Neil recounted stories he had heard from the West Coast Call Center and stressed the importance of the tough work that the helpline counselors endure. "What I do feels small compared to these volunteers," he said. With the help of all of the volunteers, the 12th Annual Cracked Xmas event raised more than $420,000 for the Trevor Project. Volunteers worked tirelessly in the months and days leading up to the event, coordinating everything from the gift bag stuffing to event set-up and strike. Very special thanks goes to event volunteer lead Michael Zinkovitch and volunteer captains Phillip Beverly, Julia Cohen, Michael Easterling, Chris Gaida, Scott Gutierrez, Mario Loera, Robyn Quinlan, Len Ringel, Alan Shepherd, Grant Sloss, Christopher Teter and Blaine Zuckerman. All thanks and all cheers to the over 140 incredible volunteers that helped to make this annual event possible.
Helpline (continued) "The training offered to new helpline counselors is an ever-growing endeavor," said Kenny Ballinger, a helpline counselor since 2008 and co-Chair of the helpline counselor subcommittee. "After each session we take feedback from the trainees and incorporate suggestions to further provide educational inservices for veteran 1 counselors and additional topics for the following classes.” The helpline subcommittee can be reached via a new dedicated e-mail address at HelplineSubCommittee@thetrevorproject.org. Through this e-mail, counselors can provide confidential suggestions, ongoing feedback and requests.
MAY
JUNE (continued)
Circle of Hope Garden Party May 16, Beverly Hills, CA
NY Pride Parade & Festival June 27, New York, NY
Trevor Desert Pool & Garden Party May 30, Palm Springs, CA
Trevor New York June 28, New York, NY
JUNE
JULY
LA Pride Parade & Festival June 12 – 13, West Hollywood, CA
Trevor Pool Party TBD, Los Angeles, CA
The Trevor Project is always looking for unique ways to support and recognize the community of helpline counselors. To find out how you can help, send an e-mail to the helpline subcommittee. The helpline counselor role is critical in fulfilling The Trevor Project's mission to save lives. If you are interested in becoming a helpline counselor, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org to fill out an application.
Show Your Trevor Pride! The Trevor Project is looking for some special volunteers to help out with Pride festivities being held this year in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and Chicago. Pride festivals and celebrations are an important way for Trevor to reach out to LGBTQ youth in local communities. Volunteers are needed to help coordinate and staff festival booths, and also reach out to potential sponsors in these cities. To offer your support or participation, please e-mail Erin.English@thetrevorproject.org.
Volunteers at The Trevor Project’s Cracked Xmas 12