Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
[STK]
[IN] ENT
[SU] LGB AWD
TO ENTERTAINMENT, LIFESTYLES, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Lena Dunham and Dr. Neal Baer receive awards from Point Foundation
NEW YORK, April 8, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 400
guests joined two dozen celebrities and dignitaries at the annual
Point Honors gala on April 7, which celebrated the accomplishments of
Point Foundation (Point) scholarship recipients. Dr. Neal Baer, the
Executive Producer and Showrunner for acclaimed television programs
such as "ER" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Under The
Dome," received the Point Leadership Award, and Lena Dunham, the
Golden Globe Winner and Emmy Nominated Actress and Producer of HBO's
"Girls," accepted the Point Horizon Award.
The event, held at the landmark New York Public Library on Fifth
Avenue, raised $620,000 for Point, the nation's largest
scholarship-granting organization for LGBTQ students of merit.
Celebrity appearances at Point Honors included Andrew Rannells,
Mariska Hargitay, Michael Urie, Tyne Daly, Judith Light,Anthony
Edwards, Rachelle Lefevre, Billy Porter, Mike Doyle, BD Wong and
Thomas Roberts. Guests also enjoyed performances by Telly Leung and
Uzo Aduba. Elected officials also attended to show support for LGBTQ
students, including California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newson, New
York State Comptroller Thomas Di Napoli and New York City
Councilmember Corey Johnson.
Mariska Hargitay presented Neal Baer with the Point Leadership award
and in an emotional speech Dr. Baer said, "I am deeply grateful to
everyone at the Point Foundation for this wonderful honor. Everyone
should have the right to live with dignity, respect and safety.Being
gay for me means being honest and, I know the word is almost cliche
today, being authentic.I can say to all of you tonight that I'm glad
I'm gay, that I love being gay. I love being who I am."
Speaking to the audience after being presented with the Point Horizon
award by her "Girls" co-star, Andrew Rannells, Lena Dunham said, "Our
goal on Girls is to show you non-stereotypical examples of the range
of people who inhabit this amazing city, and we are learning more
about what that means every day. This award is such a beautiful
indication that we are finding our way.I salute you, Point scholars
and graduates. I thank you, Point Foundation"
"It is wonderful that we had the privilege to honor two people of
tremendous talents for being champions of the LGBTQ community," said
Jorge Valencia, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of
Point Foundation. "Dr. Baer's notable professional career, in which he
often has included realistic and engaging LGBTQ characters in his
shows, speaks perfectly to the vision and perseverance that the Point
Leadership award stands for. We chose to give the Point Horizon award
to Lena Dunham because she is a trailblazer and inspires so many young
people that they can realize their great potential."
A number of Point's 78 current scholars and some of the Foundation's
165 alumni joined celebrities on stage and shared with the audience
their inspiring stories about the challenges overcome in pursuit of a
higher education degree. Point Foundation will announce the recipients
of its 2014-2015 scholarships in June 2014.
Presenting Sponsors for Point Honors New York: HBO, the Janssen
Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and Wells Fargo. Premier
Sponsors: Audi, Hilton Worldwide, and Time Warner. Principal Sponsors:
Philippe Brugere-Trelat and Mitchell Draizin, David Henry Jacobs,
Bumble and bumble and The Estee Lauder Companies, PWC, and Goldman
Sachs. Friends of Point: Grey Goose, Senses Salon. National Media
Sponsor: The Advocate. Local Media Sponsor: Gay City News.
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. The Foundation
promotes change through scholarship funding, mentorship, leadership
development and community service training. www.pointfoundation.org
Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s),
click appropriate link. ProfNet -
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=111724
SOURCE Point Foundation
-0- 04/08/2014
/CONTACT: Eugene Patron, Point Foundation, 212-512-7807, Eugene@pointfoundation.org
/Web Site: http://www.pointfoundation.org
CO: Point Foundation
ST: New York
IN: ENT
SU: LGB AWD
PRN
-- DC00453 --
0000 04/08/2014 10:00:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
