We're proud to announce that Buddy Media has partnered with Lady Gaga, the Robin Hood Foundation, Network For Good, Partnerships 4 Purpose and Causes on a crowdsourced charity contest in which Lady Gaga and the Robin Hood Foundation will give away $1 million to five charitable organizations that benefit disconnected youth in New York City.
Robin Hood is a public charity which targets poverty in New York City by funding and partnering with the best and most effective programs to get maximum results. The contest began today, and fans can vote for their favorite charity on Lady Gaga's Facebook Page. The winning program will receive a $500,000 grant over a two-year period, with the subsequent charities receiving smaller grants.
Disconnected youth is a term that refers to young people between the ages of 16 – 24 who are not in school or employed in the legitimate workforce. They may have had experience with the criminal justice system or have been in foster care. They aren’t getting the education, work, civic, and family support they need to be successful adults. A significant portion of these young adults are part of the LGBQT community.
"I'm thrilled to be working with the Robin Hood Foundation to distribute funds to help the youth of New York City," said Lady Gaga in a statement. "NYC is my hometown and I think investing in these kids' future will go a long way."
The five charities the public will vote for are:
- SCO Family of Services, which works to strengthen family ties and connects New York City’s homeless and LGBTQ youth to support services, including counseling, health care, life skills training, career guidance and counseling.
- Lawyers for Children, which advocates on behalf of New York City youth to ensure they have access to safe housing, educational opportunities and fair and equal treatment, providing free legal and social work services and offering specialized assistance for LGBTQ youth, as well as teens aging out of the foster care system.
- The Door, which provides New York City’s disconnected youth with a safe space to learn and grow, offering a full range of medical, social, educational, recreational and legal services under one roof.
- Hetrick-Martin Institute, which prepares LGBTQ youth for self-sufficiency by providing medical, education, career development, and HIV prevention services.
- Safe Horizon, which connects homeless and abused youth to support services, including housing, health care, and government entitlements.
The winning charity will be announced on May 9 during Lady Gaga’s performance at Robin Hood’s annual benefit. Lady Gaga fans also have the opportunity to win tickets to her sold out performance at the organization’s annual benefit on May 9. You can read more about the crowdsourced contest on Mashable.
