Cheer New York Supports Homeless LGBT Youth In NYC

Picture taken at Sylvia's Place, from Shelter, a book by Lucky S. Michaels,
Director of MCCNY Homeless Youth Services, published a book on LGBT Homeless Youth

Despite, the grateful accolades of the crowd, Cheer NY is about more than just doing awesome cheerleading tricks and entertaining people. Integral to our existence is the Cheer for Life Fund. Our mission is to raise money for local NYC charities that serve our fellow New Yorkers faced with life-threatening situations. We select a new recipient of our fundraising efforts approximately every six months. Currently, we are raising money for the Metropolitan Community Church of New York's Homeless Youth Services which serves the city's LGBT homeless youth population.

From MCCNY's website: An estimated 25% to 40% of New York City's 20,000 runaway and homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. These young people, many of whom have faced harassment and discrimination from the very people that should protect and nurture them, are in desperate need of services to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Metropolitan Community Church of New York, a faith-based nonprofit organization located in New York’s Hell’s Kitchen and Harlem neighborhoods, has responded to meet the needs of this disenfranchised and marginalized group of young, homeless people. Since 2002, the Homeless Youth Services of Metropolitan Community Church of New York (MCCNY) has worked tirelessly to meet the unique needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender runaway and homeless youth of New York City. MCCNY’s Homeless Youth Services includes a 6-bed emergency shelter housed in the church itself (Sylvia’s Place), and additional services such as food, clothing, mental health counseling, HIV prevention, and help with a variety of job and school needs.

We are so proud to be raising money for this amazing organization providing such vital services to an underserved population. It makes us cheer just a bit louder, toss just a bit higher, and smile just a bit brighter knowing that our efforts support our fellow New Yorkers in need.

News breaks today from the New York City Government of a new initiative from the Bloomberg administration to address this growing problem.

“New York City is determined to keep providing the support and the care that too many of our young people cannot find in their own families and homes,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We will begin work on many of the strategies outlined in the report immediately, so we can give these young adults a chance to pursue all that this great city has to offer. The more support and resources we can offer, the brighter their futures become.”

As, CNY's own Dana S says: "I'm proud of NYC for being a pioneer on these issues!"

She can be proud of Cheer New York as well for being a part of the solution! We are proud to be supporters of Sylvia's Place and for all LGBTQ youth who are struggling in our City.

To find out more, there is a Rally, today, June 14 at 6 pm Union Square in support of LGBTQ homeless youth.