CHICAGO: The LGBT Community Fund has awarded About Face Theatre a $25,000 grant for its youth program, called the About Face Youth Theatre. The program was founded in 1999 as a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and allied young people to become activists and create theatre. The grant will be awarded in a reception on Oct. 1 at the Chicago Community Trust.

“We are thrilled to be among the first grantees of the LGBT Fund at Chicago Community Trust,” said artistic director Andrew Volkoff in a statement. “We’re honored that the trust and the LGBT Fund see the value that About Face Theatre’s youth education and outreach program brings to the queer community’s young people. We admire the LGBT Fund’s commitment to supporting LGBT youth and seniors, and intend to be inspirational stewards of these funds. On behalf of AFT and our Youth Program, we extend our heartfelt thanks.”

The LGBT Fund is a donor-advised fund at the Chicago Community Trust, and is solely responsible for its own fundraising. More than $900,000 has been raised in the last three years to support worthy organizations that provide important services to the LGBT community.