We are thrilled to announce that the Holocaust Center has received a generous grant from the Contigo Fund, an initiative of Our Fund Foundation, in support of our UpStanders Initiative.

The Contigo Fund emerged from the Pulse tragedy to support organizations working to heal, educate and empower LGBTQ and Latinx individuals, immigrants, and people of color, as well as those working to end all forms of bigotry in Central Florida.

The Holocaust Center will provide the full UpStanders: Stand Up to Bullying program to middle schools students in Apopka Middle School, Piedmont Lakes Middle School, and Wolf Lake Middle School.  The UpStanders initiative recognizes the vital role students play in both bullying prevention and the promotion of a positive school climate.  The program empowers students to stand up and speak out if they witness bullying or other forms of peer mistreatment. In addition, the Holocaust Center will train an AmeriCorps member from the Hope CommUnity Center to serve as a Safe Coordinator with these three OCPS middle schools in Apopka.

We are grateful to be part of this important, community-driven initiative that is responding to the short term and longer term needs of individuals as a result of the Pulse nightclub shooting targeting LGBTQ people of color. Together we will continue to help shape our community into one where everyone feels respected and safe.