(GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network) – Posted by Michael Lamb – Echelon Magazine
Internship Connects the Generations in the LGBTQ Community
Saidzhan Abdul (“Sy”) is 24 years old, but he has chosen to spend his summer helping people who are more than twice his age. A student at the University of Pennsylvania, Sy is interning at the New York headquarters of Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE), thanks to the internship opportunities made available to him through his Point Foundations Scholarship and support of The Palette Fund.
Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students; many of whom have faced obstacles such as bullying and financial hardship. A key focus of the Point scholarship is fostering intergenerational communication and cooperation, developed through mentoring, community service projects, and internships.
Five years ago The Palette Fund partnered with Point to launch an internship program, which has made it possible for Point Scholars to spend the summer experiencing substantial, professional work that directly benefits LGBTQ community nonprofits. Because The Palette Fund underwrites a stipend for the scholar, a participating nonprofit does not have to incur any costs for having a gifted student work for them during the summer.
“As The Palette Fund continually strives to engage youth in philanthropy and help build the next generation of LGBT leaders, we are thrilled to partner with Point Foundation for this summer program once again,” Said Terrence Meck, Co-Founder & President of The Palette Fund. “Point is a beacon in our community for understanding the importance of education. By working together, we are able to offer summer internships that add value to the student’s curriculum. Plus, young people also earn much needed income and experience while helping an LGBT nonprofit organization.”
“We are sincerely grateful to The Palette Fund for enabling us to provide such meaningful opportunities to our scholars. Through the internship program, scholars are able to connect their academic preparation to their career aspirations, develop their leadership skills, and give back to the LGBTQ community,” explains Darrin Wilstead, Mentoring & Alumni Program Director at Point Foundation.
“To be able to utilize my skills and acquire a new set of tools in nonprofit development, advocacy, and strategic planning while interning at SAGE is a real gift for me,” says Sy. “I hope I can provide the people at SAGE with the same kind of passion and commitment Point Foundation and The Palette Fund have shown me.”
The Palette Fund’s commitment to Point’s internship program has helped encourage other philanthropic donors to support an additional internship. According to a recent Gallup-Purdue University study of college graduates, having had a meaningful internship during college, “where they were able to apply what they were learning in the classroom,” resulted in graduates who were much more engaged in their post-collegiate jobs and had an improved sense of well-being.
About The Palette Fund: The Palette Fund honors the legacy of Rand Harlan Skolnick through collaborative grantmaking and programs that value human rights and education. The Foundation focuses on Nutrition & Wellness, Patient Navigation, and Queer Youth. Through the Rand Skolnick Point Scholarship, The Palette Fund provides support and assistance each year, in perpetuity, to an exceptional LGBTQ student who has demonstrated leadership and potential. www.thepalettefund.org | facebook.com/thepalettefund |twitter.com/palettefund
The post Point Foundation’s Internship Program Receives Support from The Palette Fund appeared first on Echelon Magazine: LGBT Business, LGBT Money.
Media Provided by the GayWebSource.com – Gay News & Press Network.
To republish this post please visit Point Foundation’s Internship Program Receives Support from The Palette Fund