The Tyler Clementi Foundation and the Clementi family will host the 5th annual Upstander Legacy Celebration on Monday, November 14, 2016, 6:30PM-9:00PM at the ornate Prince George Ballroom on 15 East 27th Street, New York, NY.
Hosted by ABC News Correspondent Gio Benitez, and featuring a performance by Bridget Barkan, the event raises money for the Foundation’s programs to end online and offline bullying. More than 200 people will celebrate inclusiveness over wine and cocktails provided by Kim Crawford Wines and SVEDKA Vodka. The event is made possible thanks to the generous support of this year’s Champion Sponsors Barilla America, Inc. and Workplace Options, as well as the support of AT&T and the COIL Foundation.
The Tyler Clementi Foundation will honor Workplace Options and teen filmmakers from Mythic Bridge, one of the winners of AT&T’s Cyberbullying Film Invitational at the All American High School Film Festival. Workplace Options is a leading provider of employee well-being services, including the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s workplace training module. Working with the city of New York and with the Tyler Clementi Foundation, AT&T’s Cyberbullying Film Invitational invited high school filmmakers around the country to create 8-minute films that address risky online behavior and cyberbullying, as part of AT&T’s new national effort to raise awareness for the issue of cyberbullying.
Host Gio Benitez, a successful journalist who was bullied as a child, is known to engage his audience through social media. “So many, including myself, can’t escape cruel words on social media,” ABC’s Gio Benitez said. “That’s incredibly sad, but it also means that every person can use those same digital tools to help prevent and perhaps even stop online bullying.”
Bridget Barkan’s performance of her single “Danger Heart” will be a highlight of the program. The song was inspired by a friend’s story about growing up as a young gay man in the South. As Barkan recently told Idolator, “Danger Heart” is “for all people, from all walks of life, in every corner of the sky, whether gay, straight, black, white, old, young — loving and fighting with our danger hearts.”
“It is always a joy to gather with new and old friends to celebrate our impact and plot the course ahead to eliminate bullying.” said Jane Clementi, Co-Founder and board member of the Tyler Clementi Foundation. “We are excited about our award recipients and the fabulous entertainment, and look forward to greeting those who are in support of our work to create a kinder, more inclusive world for today’s youth.”
