Ali Forney Center: Needs Your Support, Executive Director Still Hot

The Ali Forney Center, a non profit organization offering housing, food, shelter and work training programs to homeless or kicked out GLBT youth, had their 5th annual holiday fundraiser last night in the Meat Packing district.

The scene was festive and the mood merry but all attendees were there to pay homage and make contributions to The Ali Forney Center which definitely needs more support and funding from people like YOU in the community.

Currently the Ali Forney Center sleeps 48 GLBT youth a night and their drop-in center receives up to 300 youngersters a month. Unfortunately, there is just not enough room for everyone and this is why the center needs more support.

Carl Siciliano, the jaw droppingly handsome Executive Director of The Ali Forney center hopes that with new funding they will be able to open up a center with 12 new beds in Astoria, Queens within 2009.

Siciliano stressed that with economy the way it is, city funding is slow and lacking regarding the center and they truly need the support from men and women in the community to pull through for them. He offered suggestions such as making contributions to the center in friends' names opposed to buying gifts, and using the idea of the holidays or holiday money as a reason to donate to the center.

In his speech, Siciliano made the point that we as a community say "Come out, come out, come out," and often times these youths do just that and unfortunately soon find themselves on the streets. We need the community to understand this and lend a helping hand to these youths and The Ali Forney Center.

To find out how you can help and to donate money click here.

Nice Rims

Alex (aka Bellie Go-Lightly) of the famous Butch and Bellie (two posts down) have a little event planned for June 3rd.

"The Rims," their bike team, are having a fabulous benefit show to raise money for the Breaking the Cycle, an AIDS ride to benefit the LGBT center of New York's HIV/AIDS services.

The evening includes Glenn Marla as host, Phoebe and the Air Force, Butch & Bellie (with Kaylamodda Olive.) Wilde Turkey and Burlesque! They are also working on a Fugazi covers album which they intend to sell (also to raise money for the Center).

Come on out and support The Rims. You won't believe this show, honestly. It's everything you're looking for in a Lower East Side Summer night.