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June 2023

Ali Forney Center

As the world celebrates and embraces diversity during Pride Month, Ohdoki will be taking a step forward by supporting the Ali Forney Center in their mission to protect and empower LGBTQ+ youth. For the month of June 2023, Ohdoki will donate $5 of every Handy sold on thehandy.com to the Ali Forney Center.

About Ali Forney Center

Our mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youth from the harms of homelessness and empower
them with the tools needed to live independently.

Our organization’s namesake, Ali Forney, was a gender-nonconforming teen who fled their
home at 13. They entered the foster care system where Ali was bounced around to several
homes, and was beaten and abused. Ali ended up living on the streets at the age of 15.
Ali was dedicated to helping other young people and publicly advocated for the safety of
homeless LGBTQ youth. Tragically, in December of 1997, Ali was murdered in Harlem—
shot in the head and left for dead.

Committed to saving the lives of LGBTQ+ young people, in 2002 Carl Siciliano founded
the Ali Forney Center (AFC) in memory of Ali. Since AFC’ s launch with just six beds in a
church basement, the organization has grown to become the largest agency dedicated to
LGBTQ+ homeless youth in the country—assisting 2,000 youth per year through a 24-
hour Drop-In Center which provides over 70,000 meals annually, medical and mental
health services through an on-site clinic, and a scattered site housing program.
Our mission is to provide LGBTQ+ young people housing and a continuum of supportive
services to help them thrive and prepare them for independent living.

AFC has been heralded for our full continuum of care approach to services for LGBTQ+
homeless youth. AFC’s founder, Carl Siciliano, was named a White House Champion of
Change by President Obama citing the wide recognition AFC’s programs have received
for their quality and innovation.

Sexual Wellness For All

At Ohdoki, we believe in a world where sexual health and pleasure are accessible to all, regardless of circumstances, sexuality, or gender. The Ali Forney Center shares a vital mission that resonates deeply with Ohdoki. We recognize the challenges faced by those who, due to various restrictions, are often denied the opportunity to explore their sexuality. This is why we have aligned our values with the Ali Forney Center’s vision of creating a world where all LGBTQ+ youth can thrive.