'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur leaves $300,000 in will to NY group that helps gay homeless youths
News Staff
Tuesday, October 27th 2009, 7:04 PM
Actress Bea Arthur left $300,000 in her will to a New York organization that aids homeless gay youth.
The Ali Fornay Center provides services to more than 1,000 each year, and is planning to buy a building to house 12 young people - and name it in honor of the "Golden Girls" actress.
The head of the center said he is thrilled with the stage and television legend's generosity.
"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," he said.
The Ali Forney Center offers emergency shelter and transitional housing in seven residential sites in New York.
It also operates two drop-in centers offering food, clothing, medical and mental health treatment, HIV testing, treatment and prevention services, and vocational and educational assistance.
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