NBA's Jason Collins to Receive Leadership Award at Conference
LOS ANGELES, July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit, will gather more than 140 of its accomplished scholars and alumni in Boston from July 24–27 for the Foundation's annual Scholar & Alumni Leadership Conference.
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At the Conference, Point Scholars and Alumni from around the U.S. will participate in sessions on career planning and advocacy skills, as well as present their own academic research and community service projects. Special conference events include a Q&A with New York Times' best-selling author Janet Mock, a screening of TWO: The Story Of Roman and Nyro and a discussion of Boston's LGBTQ history.
Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets will receive the Point Leadership Award during the Conference's Leadership Dinner at Boston's Revere Hotel on the evening of Friday, July 25. Collins was the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the North American pro sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL). Rep. Joe Kennedy III, who was Collins' college roommate at Stanford University, will present the award. Tickets are available for public purchase.
"John F. Kennedy wrote that, 'leadership and learning are indispensable to each other' and Point's Leadership Conference embodies these principles wholeheartedly," said Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Point Foundation. "With leadership also comes great courage and Jason Collins, who boldly came out as a gay man in professional sports, is a leader and role model paving the way for LGBTQ young people. He is the epitome of what this award recipient should be."
In June, Point announced 23 additional scholarship winners, making a total of 80 full-time students receiving financial assistance and programmatic support from Point during the 2014–2015 academic year.
Support for the Conference and Leadership Dinner is provided by Entrepreneurial Sponsors Time Warner Foundation and Wells Fargo, and Sponsor Verizon. Friends of Point Sponsors for the Conference are Citi Community Development, Fandango and Grainger. Friends of Point Sponsors for the Dinner are Citi Community Development and Grey Goose. National Media Sponsor for the Conference and Dinner is The Advocate. Conference session media sponsor is The Gay & Lesbian Review. For Scholar & Alumni Leadership Conference sponsorship information, contact Claire Walsh.
About Point Foundation
Point Foundation empowers promising LGBTQ students to achieve their full academic and leadership potential – despite the obstacles often put before them – to make a significant impact on society. Since 2001, Point has invested more than $15 million in the education and support of Point Scholars, making it the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit. The Foundation promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership development and community service training. http://www.pointfoundation.org | facebook/pointfoundation | twitter/pointfoundation
Eugene Patron
Point Foundation
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