My Nonprofit Reviews
Michael89
Review for The Hetrick-Martin Institute, New York, NY, USA
I've been involved with HMI (as it's usually called) for 20 years. If it didn't save the life of my daughter's friend back then when I gave her the info for the organization for her tortured gay 16 year-old friend, it was really important in showing him, that as he reported to my daughter, "I was in a room full of gay people it wasn't weird." The HMI after-school programs, and Harvey-Milk, started by HMI in 1985 and expanded as a full city high school in the same HMI space in 2002 (a unique school in NYC and the nation) have helped thousands of young people who need positive adult mentoring and role models (like my daughter's friend, now in IT in San Francisco). How many times does one save a young life? Every time one donates to HMI.
More Feedback
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Not only the experience with my daughter's friend mentioned in my main recommendation, but I did interviews with youth during my 6 years on the board for organizational presentations. I am still in touch with a few of them, including lesbian fiances I introduced as part of a fundraising event. There are so many young gay (and trans) people who are looking for someone who understands them (at all) and a group to belong too. Much too hard for lgbt kids. And HMI adds "q" for "questioning." Many teens are.
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Find more money by countering the prevailing view of foundation and government grant makers that gay youth organization needs are about mental health or HIV -certainly true- but gay youth have all the same challenges that straight youth face as well-dysfunctional families, poverty, learning disability -but as soon as they are identified as gay, any other issue they have is obscured by the notion it's they are gay. LGBTfocused youth agencies need to be able to access money for every aspect of at-risk youth.
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
What specific problem, purpose, priority, or project prompted your gift?
My daughter was distraught that a new friend at her first few months of high school, who had come out to her, was being physically and verbally abused by his family (including a grandfather!). He was running away from home and cutting class. She turned to me as a gay parent who was involved in community issues and I knew, by reputation, HMI (Hetrick-Martin Institute). I gave her their information, which she relayed. His report: "I was in a room full of gay people and it wasn't weird."
Why did you make your donation at this time?
After the experience of my daughter's high school friend, I was so grateful there was a professional orgainzation to help young people like him. I made a donation and got involved with the organization both as a financial donor and in concrete ways based on securing software through my job at the time. I have been donating for 20 years now, you'd have to never read a newspaper to not know lgbt kids are at-risk still.
What would you tell others about this organization?
This is a life-saving organization. If you are a parent of a grown, or teen-age child, you know how short this window is and how important it is that a teen knows they are worthwhile and that life has many possibilities. For many lgbt youth, it's reported 40% of minority gay youth, coming out means being expelled from home. For others it's less drastic but in no way supportive. I'm a parent. I want every child to have the support I got from my parents and that I tried to give to my daughter.
