LOS ANGELES, March 11, 2010 — Point Foundation (Point), the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit, and the Palette Fund, a philanthropic organization that honors the legacy of Rand Harlan Skolnick through collaborative grant making and programs that value human rights and education, today announced the launch of a nonprofit internship pilot program. The program will provide Point Scholars with full-time, career-related work experience to connect their academic preparation to their career aspirations. This innovative program is designed to provide paid internships to Point Scholars who are interested in pursuing a career in the LGBT movement.
“Point Foundation is honored and humbled by the Palette Fund’s continued support of Point’s mission of providing educational opportunities to deserving young people and investing in tomorrow’s leaders of the LGBT community. This initiative comes at a time when nonprofits are in great need of skilled and talented young people whom they can groom to lead the way into the future,” said Jorge Valencia, the foundation’s Executive Director & CEO.
The scope of Point’s Nonprofit Internship Pilot Program will include a variety of not-for-profit organizations that are willing to offer internships, consisting of meaningful, professional work assignments, which will be funded by the Palette Fund. These full-time internships will average ten weeks in duration and provide select Point Scholars a competitive wage based on their level of experience and the requirements of the internship.
“Palette’s mission of valuing human rights and education is evidence in our ongoing partnership with Point Foundation. Rand had a vision and commitment to attracting high level individuals to the LGBT movement. As such, we will fund three nonprofit internships for Point’s Scholars. It is our hope that other entities will join us in this effort,” said Terrence Meck, Palette Fund’s Executive Director.
About Point Foundation
Point Foundation (Point) is the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students of merit. Point provides financial support, leadership training, mentoring and hope to LGBT individuals who are marginalized because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Point provides its scholars with the financial ability to attend the nation’s foremost higher educational institutions and its donors and mentors with the rare satisfaction of directly investing their resources and time in future generations of leaders. Point Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization. More information may be found at www.pointfoundation.org.