Youth Outlook to hold 5th annual Dare to Dream Gala Oct. 19

Youth Outlook will hold its annual Dare to Dream gala on Friday, October 19, 2012 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. The event will feature comedienne, Suzanne Westenhoefer. The gala includes dinner, community awards, and both silent and live auctions. Tickets are available at the Youth Outlook website: http://www.youth-outlook.org/

This year's event also includes an awards ceremony honoring the following individuals and organization for their contributions to Youth Outlook this year:

Individual: Brooke Condon, for her behind the scenes work this past year in the establishment of a Community Network for Professionals Supporting LGBT Youth in DeKalb. Brooke's efforts led to the launching of the first two Gay/ Straight Alliance groups in middle schools in the state of Illinois.

Business Partner: Illinois School District 428, represented by Kari Cremascoli and Lindsey Hall, for being the first administrators in our four county service area to mandate training on LGBT adolescent development to all staff at the middle and high school level. No other school district has made such a concerted effort to get training and support to their staff in Youth Outlook's history.

Staff Excellence in Service: Andrea Drott, for her tireless commitment as the Youth Outlook Leadership coordinator for the last several years.

Youth Leader: Bradi Pirtle, who is inclusive, engaging and fierce in her commitment to Youth Outlook and the youth at the drop-in centers.

Impact Award: To Deb Miller, for her behind the scenes work on behalf of Youth Outlook. This new award honors the person who demonstrates a “take charge” attitude and drive that sets her apart from others in the agency's mission.

Youth Outlook is the only agency in the DuPage, Kane, Whiteside and DeKalb counties of Illinois dedicated solely to serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. In order to accomplish their mission, Youth Outlook provides wellness education on a variety of topics, leadership development and social space. They also conduct community education programs for organizations such as school districts and corporations in order to change the social atmosphere that imperils LGBTQ youth in the first place.

Since their beginning in 1998, Youth Outlook has expanded their services, now offering four drop-in centers in four counties, as well as a youth leadership program, a group for transgender youth, off-site recreational activities, and mobile programming.