i know you're involved tremendously with the trevor project. i have a lot of people that are asking me how they can get involved etc. and i have a lot of time on my hands right now and want that time to be used in the best way possible. please let me know of any and all info, events, etc and i will send people your way

xoxo

thank you for all that you do!

This week has been a stunning reminder of how difficult it still is to be a gay teen in America.

We learned Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University Freshman, killed himself by jumping off a bridge after his roommate secretly recorded him with another male student, then broadcast the video online. We also learned 13 year-old Seth Walsh hung himself from a tree branch in Tehachapi, California after months of relentless bullying. In Harris, Texas, Asher Brown, also only 13, shot himself in the head after classmates teased him mercilessly and acted out mock gay sex acts in class.

All three of these young men chose suicide over being taunted by their peers about being gay. Core to dot429 is a belief that together we can be stronger. In that spirit, we need to band together and stop this now. Please do what you can:

1. Be a role model. Show kids (gay or straight) that lots of LGBT people grow up to be happy and to find total acceptance of who they are.

2. Support the Trevor Project. The Trevor Project, one of the first nonprofits dot429 chose to support, works tirelessly to stop this epidemic of teen suicide. You can support The Trevor Project at http://www.facebook.com/l/13c03DpJyU-eWAStBM1FlUJS_iA;www.thetrevorproject.org. You can also text TREVOR to 85944 to donate $5 to The Trevor Project.

3. Spread the word about Dan Savage's new YouTube project, "It Gets Better," which takes the message to teens that LGBT life improves. Better yet, make a video about your own life and post it there.

http://www.facebook.com/l/13c03XtD6eQ4QWQfD5ELaeEgqUg;www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject

Our LGBT teens deserve better. They deserve to celebrate who they are. They deserve a childhood. They deserve to live a life without taunts and bullying. Let's work together to create a world that gives them just that.

Sincerely,

Jamie T. Ranieri
AFruitFli
The Trevor Project - Board of Directors

Thank you for your work Jamie. I am proud to know someone who has made it their lifes passion to be involved as you are in the work of The Trevor Project. I wish you strength and love.

AliceBrown

It was so much fun meeting you at DTOX . Knowing you are on the board makes me very happy. I hope our paths cross again soon. Bob Morrison

It was great to meet you at the Trevor Mixer last week. I look forward to seeing you at future events.

Congratulations and best of luck with your work on the Trevor Board.

Hi, Jamie and Ruben! Welcome to the Board! We are thrilled to have you and I’m looking forward to meeting you both soon. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment and support!

Warm regards,

Ricky Strauss
Vice-Chair

Jamie and Ruben,

Welcome, welcome! So glad to have you join us on the board. I've heard
such great things about you both and your contributions to our efforts back
east. I look forward to meeting you both.

Here's to great things ahead!

Cheers,
Peggy Rajski
Founder

Hi Jamie,
Congratulations on joining the board. I know you'll be a GREAT asset!!

Jeffrey

3-02-2009: Love how on fire you are! It inspired me!

It was very interesting that only a couple of weeks ago, watching “In The Life” on channel 13, Dale and I were introduced to the Trevor Project. Then, yesterday, I logged into your Fruitfli site and there it was again.. How fabulous are you?? And Lauren tells me that you’re a kind of Trevor Project unto yourself – helping out boi’s who are down and out.

Thanks Jamie for such a fanstatic evening. Front row Table #3 is fab. You are the celebrity in my eyes so all U's Ugly Betty Cast wannabees better watch out!

TrevorNY last night was amazing girly. Alex and I had such a great time. Thanks for organizing!