True Colors Fund Announces 5th Annual 'Home for the Holidays Benefit'

On Saturday, December 5�at New York City's historic Beacon Theatre, Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund presents its 5th Annual "Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for the Holidays benefit concert to raise awareness about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth homelessness. All of the net proceeds from the concert will support the True Colors Fund's programs.

Cyndi Lauper will be joined on stage this year by Boy George, Cam, Judy Gold, Ledisi, Keb' Mo', Sharon Osbourne, Jordan Pundik, Richie Sambora & Orianthi, Valerie Simpson, Anne Steele, Joey Taranto, Justin Tranter, Kurt Vile, and host Carson Kressley.
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"For the fifth year, 'Home for the Holidays' will feature an incredible night of performances in support of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth experiencing homelessness," said Lauper, co-founder of the True Colors Fund. "I'm so grateful for the artists who will donate their time and talents this December in support of a cause that we can't ignore. This concert will enable the True Colors Fund to continue our work to create a world in which all kids can be their true selves. I can't wait!"

In America, up to 40 percent of the 1.6 million youth that are homeless each year identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Yet, only up to seven percent of the general youth population is LGBT. The most cited reason for this disproportionate rate is family rejection due to the young person's sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Co-founded by Cyndi Lauper, the True Colors Fund works to end homelessness among LGBT youth, creating a world in which young people can be their true selves. The True Colors Fund is focused on raising public awareness, advocating within government, conducting research, working collaboratively with young people, and organizing communities to develop solutions to prevent and end LGBT youth homelessness.

Some highlights of the True Colors Fund's work this year include:

Launching the first #40toNoneDay, a national day to raise awareness about LGBT youth homelessness, which reached over 17 million people online.

� Partnering with The White House to conduct a Policy Briefing on Youth Homelessness to help prioritize the needs of youth experiencing homelessness within the Federal Government.

� True Colors Fund co-founder Cyndi Lauper testifying in the Senate on the need for additional resources for communities to address youth homelessness and for safe and inclusive services for LGBT youth.�

� Continuing to provide free tools, resources, and training through its Forty to None Network to service providers and communities around the country to aid them in providing safe, inclusive, and welcoming support to LGBT youth experiencing homelessness.

� Holding the second annual sold-out Forty to None Summit, the only national annual gathering to discuss innovative solutions to ending LGBT youth homelessness in America.�

� Launching the True Fellowship, which provides young LGBT leaders who have experienced homelessness and housing instability with leadership training as they conduct six-month service projects in their communities.

� In conjunction with "Home for the Holidays" releasing its annual 40 of the Forty list, which highlights 40 LGBT young people who have experiences with homelessness and provides them with opportunities to be engaged in the organization's work.

"Home for the Holidays" is proud to have the support of Platinum Sponsors Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; American Airlines; and Van Gogh Vodka, Gold Sponsors Cadillac; The Estee Lauder Companies; and Jujamcyn Theaters, and Silver Sponsors Barclays; Capital One; Johnson & Johnson; Keith Bell, Licensed Acupuncturist; Kinky Boots; The Madison Square Garden Company; Reveal; and USA Network's Characters Unite.

Grammy and Emmy award-winning artist and advocate Cyndi Lauper co-founded the True Colors Fund to end homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth through a broad continuum of community organizing, public engagement, public policy, research, and youth collaboration programs.
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