Directors at the Ali Forney Center had reason to thank Bea Arthur for being a friend today after receiving a $300,000 gift from the estate of the late actress (and Golden Girl).
Arthur, a Tony and Emmy award-winning actress, comedienne and singer—best known for her work in theater and her TV roles as Maude Findlay on Maude and Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls—died of cancer at age 86 on April 25.
The Ali Forney Center—the nation’s largest organization dedicated to homeless LGBT youth—seems to always be throwing a benefit to raise some much-needed cash. So with this windfall, the organization plans to use the money to provide aid and assistance the LGBT community for which Arthur was a longtime advocate.
"We work with hundreds of young people who are rejected
by their families because of who they are," said Executive Director Carl
Siciliano. "We are overwhelmed with gratitude
that Bea saw that LGBT youth deserve as much love and support as any other
young person, and that she placed so much value in the work we do to protect
them, and to help them rebuild their lives."
Plans by the center to establish a new home for homeless LGBT youth named in Arthur’s honor were also announced last month during a memorial service.
