Charity Profile: STONEWALL Veterans' Association

Planet Connections Theater Festivity is proud to list the renowned STONEWALL Veterans' Association as a Featured Charity!


Stonewall Veterans' Association's Executive Councel is comprised of the legendary Stonewall veterans of the historic 1969 Stonewall Rebellion for Gay civil rights at the landmark Stonewall Club in NYC.  
The seminal event established the modern Gay community and launched the worldwide Gay rights
movement now benefiting millions of people -- Gay and non-Gay -- in civil
rights, marriage, employment, housing, visitation, healthcare, insurance,
legal, right of survivorship and various benefits plus so much more!

Among the STONEWALL Veterans' Association's many regular activities:
* provides "Stonewall" speakers to high schools, colleges, churches,
 clubs, companies, civic groups, symposiums and to other U.S.A. cities
* protects and maintains the Stonewall archives and photo collections
* organizes discussion panels, educational seminars and public forums
* educates the World via approximately 10 million website visits annually
* accommodates SW-vets with physical disabilities or mental health issues
* originators of the "Gay Marriage" movement as of the 1969 SW rebellion
* owns, garages and insures the famous blue 1969 Cadillac "Stonewall Car"
* collaborating on media projects, e.g., the BBC's 1996 movie "Stonewall"
* provides history facts such as Stonewall was a "rebellion" (not 'riots')
* maintaining SVA property and archives at a Manhattan storage facility
* SW-vets being honored at Gay Pride events literally throughout the World
* creating and coordinating advertising and promotion of "Stonewall Era"
* delivering age-related support in many ways to our aging Stonewall vets
* giving opportunities for Gay youth to work for and learn from the S.V.A.
* preparing, planning and executing USA "Stonewall 43" (2012) activities
* leads the annual New York City Gay Pride Parade with the 1969 "SW-Car"

From the legendary Gay (observe the capital "Gay", not 'gay') people who
originated the 'Gay Marriage' movement as of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion
when, after the first night on June 27th, many signs read: "Gay Marriage"
as well as "Gay Rights" and "Gay Power"; no alphabet GLBT soup non-sense!

The S.V.A. is not a political group (it has a far greater support) and as
NYC Mayor Ed Koch has stated publicly "...and much more political clout"!

Learn more at www.STONEWALLvets.org

See photos of the S.V.A. leading a New York City Gay Pride Parade at:
http://www.STONEWALLvets.org/parade/SW-35.htm

by Lauren M

Charity Profile: To Write Love on Her Arms

Planet Connection Theater Festivity is proud to list To Write Love On Her Arms as one of this seasons Featured Charities.

Two out of three people who struggle with depression never seek help.  Rather than reaching out to family, friends, or other loved ones, they use other means of coping. Destructive means. The vision of To Write Love on Her Arms (more commonly referred to as TWLOHA) is to show those people, stretched to the limits of their strength, that there is community of people, full of love, waiting with open arms to give hope and strength to help relieve their silent suffering. This non-profit organization is focused on helping those who are fighting battles against not only depression, but also addiction,  and self-injury. TWLOHA 's vision also provides support for those who have survived the loss of loved ones to suicide.

In the spring of 2006, TWLOHA was born in Orlando Florida. Founder, Jamie Tworkowski  wrote of his experience of waiting five days outside of a drug treatment center with his friend Renee, as she was repeatedly denied access. He entitled the story “To Write Love on Her Arms”.  You can read the story here: http://www.twloha.com/vision/story/. After realizing the reasons Renee was denied, Jamie decided to design and create t-shirts as a way to help pay for her treatment. Soon after they were printed, band members from Switchfoot and Anberlin were wearing the shirts to help promote the fight against depression and addiction.

In America alone, it is estimated that 19 million people live with depression.  It is the third leading cause of death among those 18 – 24 years old. In the past six years, TWLOHA has responded to over 150,000 messages from over 40 different countries from young men and women who have survived their struggle because of the message of hope and help.

Planet Connections is proud to promote the cause of TWLOHA as it continues to reach out and give hope  All monetary donations for the organization help support the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Self Injury Foundation, Kids Help Line, and many others. TWLOHA is a project for all people regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Hope and love do not discriminate - neither does TWLOHA.

Here is an excerpt from the story by Jaime Tworkowski: “She is alive now, in the patience and safety of rehab, covered in marks of madness but choosing to believe that God makes things new, that He meant hope and healing in the stars. She would ask you to remember.” Planet Connection Theater Festivity hopes to spread  their message of hope to all those who come to experience the many stories shared  in June.

If you, or someone you know, can no longer deal with the struggles of life, know there is hope.  You can find that at http://www.twloha.com.


by Jennifer Dobies
edited by Erika Bracy