Friends of Ruby is thrilled to announce that we have been selected for the honoured position of Charity of Choice for this year’s Pride Toronto 2023 commemorations, alongside the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
Chosen by Pride Toronto’s community advisory panel, the Honoured Positions, including Charity of Choice, are selected in recognition of their leadership and achievements in human rights issues. These positions are selected based on their contribution to fighting against discrimination and for equality; violence, torture, and abuse; and criminalization of 2SLGBTQIA+ people, identities, and activities on a national level. They will lead the 2023 Pride Parade and act as an ambassador to represent their communities throughout the year with a focus on Pride Month initiatives.
In celebration of this recognition, our annual Pride fundraising initiative is called, Momentum for 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Mental Health. All donations and funding raised during this initiative will allow Friends of Ruby to expand its mental health supports, like our counselling team, as well as develop and launch new programs to support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth well-being. Together, we can make a transformational and lasting difference in the lives of underserved and under supported youth – to create a world where all 2SLGBTQIA+ young people feel validated, involved, and feel empowered to lead healthier lives.
2SLGBTQIA+ youth are, just like this year’s Pride Toronto theme, “Here, there, everywhere.”
About Pride Toronto
Pride Toronto supports our communities in the pursuit of our unequivocal rights to be known, be heard, be understood, be accepted, be respected, and to celebrate the beauty of who we are. Founded in 1981, Pride Toronto continues a legacy that is deeply intertwined with the rich, progressive history of Toronto’s queer community. From a small gathering of dedicated activists fighting for their right to love and be seen, to clashes with the government and police, to the vibrant celebration we know today, Pride has been a long time in the making.
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About Friends of Ruby
Founded in 2014 by Egale Canada to address the reality that Toronto’s 2SLGBTQIA+ youth face high rates of family rejection, violence, homelessness, suicidality, and trauma. In 2019, Friends of Ruby officially became its own registered charity.
The Friends of Ruby Youth Drop-In Center was created to meet the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 16-29 youth by providing a safe space to build community and access case management and mental health support. To date, we have served over 1,100 2SLGBTQIA+ youth at our Drop-In Centre. In December 2020, Friends of Ruby Home, our transitional housing facility for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, opened its doors. Since opening, we have provided 61 youth with a place to call home while supporting their journeys of mental health, well-being, and independent living.
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Media Spokespersons
Sammi Ho, Community Engagement Strategic Associate| sho@friendsofruby.ca | (647) 250-1894
Alban Joxhe, Director of Transitional Housing| ajoxhe@friendsofruby.ca | (647) 576-8546
Media Support/Contact
Janice Moro, Fundraising and Development Consultant | jmoro@friendsofruby.ca | (647) 207-5688
For media inquiries contact, media@friendsofruby.ca
