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   CAT PROJECT BRIGHTER FUTURE VOLUNTEER FAQ
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
   PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE!!!

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Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a non-profit organization
that produces educational videos for children and teens on social
issues such as AIDS, diversity and substance abuse. CAT's current
video project is on self-esteem and suicide prevention for gay,
lesbian and bisexual (GLB) teens. CAT also believes there is a strong
correlation between low self-esteem and the spread of HIV through
unsafe sex. "Project Brighter Future for GLB Teens" hopes to have a
significant impact towards providing hope and long, healthy lives
for our nations GLB youth.

Want more information on Project Brighter Future???
Please E-Mail didom@usa1.com or on the Web:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/info/teen.html/
CAT also provides a GLB youth Web page:
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/glb/glb.html/

If you are already familiar with the project and want to volunteer,
please read on... Project Brighter Future has been endorsed by
Congressman Frank and Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts!!!

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  NOTE: If you can not help in our volunteer effort, please pass this 
  FAQ on to someone else. If you volunteered for an on-camera
  interview, you have not been forgotten! Right now, our present need
  is to raise funds and other volunteer tasks. Thanks!!!

This FAQ is for potential youth and adult volunteers. Just as a
reminder, we are sensitive to the fact that many GLB youth, for
reasons of safety, etc., may no be able to openly support a
fundraiser for this project. Although our immediate and critical need
is for money, we have provided other volunteer opportunities as ways
you can help. Any help is greatly appreciated!!! GLB and heterosexual
teens and adults are encouraged to volunteer. Only with the support
of ALL people will this important work continue...

Here are a few comments from our Executive Director, Bessie Hadley:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I first began to research this video and look for volunteers, I
recall a conversation I had with a teen volunteer. We began to talk
about her interest in the video and I asked her: "What did your
family say when you told them you were a lesbian?" She then said: "My
father disowned me. My mother tried to 'make me straight.' My brother 
would not talk to me. I had to leave my family. I miss them a lot..."
Then she started to cry... And so did I... 

As I think about this conversation now, I still makes me feel sad to 
think that young people consider suicide as an option to living.
Families need to encourage GLB teens to have positive self-worth
and parents must love their children unconditionally...

Who we are...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Animated Television (CAT) is a 501-C-3 non-profit
organization that produces educational videos for children and teens.
Kids and their families learn about contemporary social problems,
such as diversity and AIDS. Cartoons are used in a nonthreatening way
to help children learn about these issues. A new activity for CAT is
the production of non-animated videos for teenagers. Future projects
for teens include substance abuse and addiction, participation in
democracy and being safe on the streets. CAT would like to discuss
topics for all kids, from third grade through high school. We are a
new and progressive organization is search of people concerned about
a better future for all children and our world...

What we do...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since 1992, our mission has been to encourage discussion between
children, parents, teachers and other people concerned about today's
social issues. Discussion can motivate people to find creative
solutions, and learn about compromise. If you can envision peace and
solutions, then you can find ways to end conflict. CAT has a weekly
newsletter, "The CAT Chronicle",  which includes information on
CAT's current events, a parenting and child safety area, the GLB
Youth Advisor column, and comments from CAT's staff. We also have a
computer bulletin board service, and a CAT Homepage on the World Wide
Web. Future plans include a series of public service announcements
using puppets, developing a weekly cable television show on social
issues, and creating more video programs for young people.

People Who Know Us...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our video on diversity, "The Cool Cat's Show - Differences" has won a 
prestigious cable television award. "Dr Furball Talks about HIV &
AIDS" is listed as a resource in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
Educational Database. Both videos have been added to the resource
list of the National Education Association Health Information
Network. We have received support from Congressman Frank, Congressman
Moakley, Congressman Markey and Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts. Our
unique videos have appeared on many cable television stations.

PROJECT BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR GLB TEENS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Our latest video effort is called Project Brighter Future. This video
will focus on self-esteem and suicide prevention in gay, lesbian and
bisexual (GLB) youth. The goal is to present positive role models
(adults and teens) who will talk about their experiences growing up
as GLB youth. We also hope to encourage youth to believe that they
can have a brighter future, and that suicide need not be an option.
CAT also plans to create a separate video for transgendered youth.

Hate crimes such as racially motivated violence and "gay bashing" is
on the rise and ALL decent Americans must demand a stop to this. As
our President, Claude DiDomenica recently said: "When one person
suffers we all suffer. What meaning is their to life knowing there is
so much pain and hatred on our planet. We ALL must do our part to
help. The plight of GLB youth is a national tragedy and disgrace..."

Here is a list of some challenges that GLB teens encounter:
 
 - Higher and unacceptable incidence of suicide than the general 
   population
 - Prevalent alcohol and substance abuse
 - Increased risk of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD's)
 - Unsupported and/or hostile family, school and social environments
 - Violence and hate crimes
 - Inadequate or no education because they fear attending school
 - Being thrown out of their homes or feeling compelled to run away
 - Involvement in prostitution for survival, if homeless

How YOU can help...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have received MANY responses to our call for volunteers. People
have contacted us from all over the country. Most people want to
volunteer for on-camera interviews. This is encouraging but
unfortunately, our most immediate need is for funding. Without money,
we cannot cover the cost of producing this video. CAT is an
all-volunteer nonprofit organization, including the staff. If you
really want to help Project Brighter Future to be a success, please
think about the following ideas. If you choose to volunteer, we are
asking that you commit a minimum of 5 hours each week to this
project.

Project Brighter Future is special because it will include multiple
features, including:

 - Promoting self-esteem in GLB teens
 - Introducing positive GLB role models of all ages, races
   and walks of life
 - Demonstrating the correlation between low self-esteem and
   substance abuse, the increased risk of HIV and STD's
 - Stimulate discussion for groups in schools, social groups,
   religious organizations and families
 - Provide hope and a brighter future for troubled GLB teens

Why is this project important???
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The producer, Claude DiDomenica, tells why it's important to him:
"We would like to show positive teen and adult role models in an 
attempt to beef up self-esteem in GLB youth. I, for one, am ashamed
to live on a planet that treats its fellow beings as many of us do...
My primary motive is to help save these precious young lives..."

The bottom line...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asking people for money is not an easy task. It is not easy for us at
CAT to ask you to do this. Please understand we area grassroots
organization with little current support from foundations,
corporations and individuals. We have yet to find that one visionary
person to provide the seed money (operating funds) that any
non-profit needs. [We know YOU are reading this! Please help us!] CAT
is not only in danger of not producing the GLB youth video, but in
jeopardy of shutting down completely. Now is the time to act!!!

Below are many ways to help us through this critical stage. Please
feel free to suggest additional ways we didn't mention...
We have listed them in more or less, order of importance:

1. Join the "2500 Club"
   Ask 100 people you know to donate $25 or more each. Make a list of
   people you know who might be interested in helping to fund this
   video. Think of your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors;
   anyone you think might be able to help. Help them to understand
   that all of us need to help GLB youth grow up into productive,
   healthy adults. Donations are needed to produce the video,
   including costs for renting video equipment, editing fees, travel
   for on-camera interviews, cost of materials and to set up an 800
   hotline for GLB youth.

2. Join the "1250 Club"
   Ask 50 people to make a donation of $25 or more. Make a list of
   people you know who might be interested in helping to fund this
   video. Think of your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors,
   anyone you think might be able to help. Help them to understand
   that all of us need to help GLB youth grow up into productive,
   healthy adults. Donations are needed to produce the video,
   including costs for renting video equipment, editing fees, travel
   for on-camera interviews, cost of materials and set up an 800
   hotline for GLB youth.

3. Join the "Set Your Own Goal Club"
   Many of us don't know 50 or 100 people... No problemo! Set your
   own goal for a fundraiser. Contact as many people as you know and
   ask for a $5, $10, $15 or more donation. Any help you can give
   would be appreciated. Don't be afraid to ask a person who is
   really interested for a large sum. Bessie and I over the last 4
   years have donated or loaned to CAT close to $50,000!!!
   Remember, it doesn't hurt to ask...

4. Group power!!!
   If you are a member of a GLB or gay/straight alliance group in
   your school, encourage your group to plan a fundraiser for CAT!
   A fundraiser can include a simple bake sale, book sale, movie
   night, spelling bee, etc. If CAT could get 50 youth groups to
   raise $5000 each, the video could be produced. Maybe your group
   could help us sell boxes of M&M's, etc. Please contact us below if
   interested...

5. Our GLB youth and community leaders...
   Are you a business owner, GLB youth counselor or mentor, member of
   the clergy, etc.???  Why not sponsor or coordinate a "CAT Month."
   For example, a business owner could donate 10% of all sales of a
   certain item or items. A GLB counselor could inspire their group
   to volunteer, etc. A minister could tell their parishioners about
   CAT's need for support. CAT would love to find a T-shirt company
   to donate a bunch of silk-screened shirts for fundraising, or
   other products/services!!!

Please send donations to:
Children's Animated Television
1492 Highland Avenue, Suite 3
Needham, MA 02192
voice 617-449-9699
fax   617-449-2238
didom@usa1.com
http://www1.usa1.com/~furball/

  IMPORTANT: We need volunteers to help in the fundraising area the
  most. If we can get 100 people to raise $2500 each, we could easily
  fund this video project! Please think about how you can help this
  effort. We also need volunteers with experience in these areas:

1. Director of Development - Boston area:
   We are looking for a seasoned veteran with connections to the
   philanthropic community, experienced in organizing fundraisers,
   writing grant proposals, etc. Retirees are welcome!!! CAT was
   founded by two concerned people with NO professional non-profit
   management experience. We are great at producing the videos and
   running a cool Web site. Where we need the most help is in the
   development area... Please consider helping us.

2. Internet Guru #1 - any location:
   Volunteer who can search the Internet including the Web for
   sponsors, and obtain links to CAT's homepage, and other pages.
   Can also post CAT's newsletter and press releases to the
   appropriate newsgroups, lists, etc.

3. Internet Guru #2 - any location:
   Person to gather E-Mail list of ALL media sources including radio,
   television, newspapers, magazines, political people (federal and
   state), celebrities, and any one else you think might be helpful.
   This is a VERY important project. CAT would like to compile the
   largest E-Mailing list possible!!!
 
4. Internet Guru #3 - any location
   Volunteer to post on the appropriate USENET newsgroups and lists
   and tell them about the CAT Web Homepage and our other activities.
   We would like someone to get involved on a continual basis.
   
5. BBS addicts:
   BBS users needed for each metropolitan area to post newsletters
   CAT files, etc. Currently, only the 617 area (Boston) is being
   taken care of. Also, be willing to participate on the appropriate
   Net's such as FIDONET, WILDNET, etc.

6. On-line service users:
   Prodigy, etc. users needed to post newsletters, etc. in the
   appropriate conferences. Currently, only America Online is being
   taken care of. CompuServe, Genie, Delphi, Prodigy, etc. users
   needed! Also, we need users for major BBS's such as Channel 1,
   etc.

7. Fundraiser #1 - any location:
   Person experienced in organizing community fundraising events such
   as book fairs, car washes or bake sales. Would also need to be
   willing to contact local businesses to be sponsors for CAT events.

8. Fundraiser #2 - any location:
   Person skilled in networking with family, friends, and coworkers
   to obtain pledges for donations to CAT, contact the community
   relations person at their workplace to encourage volunteer
   opportunities for employees, etc.

9. Writers #1 - any location:
   Writers welcome to submit articles for our weekly newsletter,
   "The CAT Chronicle." Be creative! Write about something important
   to you. Your voice will be heard internationally... We prefer some
   sort of theme like "Substance Abuse and Addiction" to be submitted
   weekly. We encourage single submissions as well...

10. Writers #2 - any location:
    Pediatrician needed to contribute articles to the "Parents and
    Child Safety" page in our popular newsletter. Jeff Sam, our
    parents and child safety coordinator needs your help! You would
    be responsible for medical related issues...

11. Writers #3 - any location:
    Seeking a health professional (Physician, RN, LSW, etc.) to write
    a weekly column for our newsletter about the latest AIDS
    information, including prevention as well as a PWA's diet,
    exercise, medications, mental health, new treatments and
    studies...

12. Translators - any location:
    Needed to translate weekly newsletter into Spanish and French.

13. Volunteer youth political activist:
    Person (adult or teen) who can monitor current anti/pro-GLB
    policies, businesses, communities, etc. Can help compile a list
    of "GLB friendly" politicians, businesses, organizations, etc.
    Will help CAT set up a program to encourage GLB youth to register
    to vote and take part in the political process. Let's put an
    end to apathy!

14. Researcher - any location:
    Volunteer needed who is willing to find specific information
    on the Internet, library, etc. An example would be to find
    the latest research on GLB suicide or to find the
    "Traditional Values Coalition's" Web site and do opposition
    research, etc.

Food for thought: some final words from Bessie...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Since we began this project in June, we have raised $175!! Our phone
bill for June was $250!!! The truth is, I am disheartened by the
general lack of interest in the health of GLB youth in our country.
This project on suicide prevention and self-esteem in GLB teens has
been a really tough "sell" to most adults in the GLB community. We
understand it takes great courage to stand up for GLB youth. Just
think if the decent people of Germany would have stood up to
the NAZI's... Claude's family lost people to the Holocaust...

I have contacted nearly every GLB national organization, as well as
local groups. I hate to admit this, but our pleas generally have
fallen upon deaf ears. In my humble opinion, I think it is a real
national tragedy that our young people are killing themselves.

So... we are changing our strategy to try and reach the people
directly involved: the GLB youth. My partner and I have invested all
of our time and money into this non-profit. We understand that most
groups are focused on direct services, rather than long term
prevention and education. It is easy to be charitable when you see a
sick child or an impoverished community. But our contribution to
society can make as much of an impact as ending domestic violence.
Prevention and education are the best ways to diminish many problems
that plague our society. We know that this is the right project to
do. We also believe that the problem of suicide in GLB youth is
important to all people, no matter what their sexual orientation may
be. Claude and I are a heterosexual couple and we care!!! Claude has
been saying "Love and the truth shall prevail..."
I hope he is right!!!

Please don't be surprised if people are resistant to you asking them
to fund this video. We live in a homophobic society. If someone makes
an unkind remark to you about GLB youth, try to remember that each of
us is different for a reason. Diversity is a good and natural part of
life. Each day we hear from strangers who say that they appreciate
our effort to make this video. We hear from teens, young adults and
even parents who have lost a child. This project is really for the
youth of our country. There are adults out there who really DO care
if you live or die. Thanks again for all your help!!!

Good luck in your fundraising effort! Your support and kind words
have really kept Claude and I motivated to finish this video.

Bessie
hadley@usa1.com

P.S. Please take a moment to read the "CAT Credo." Thanks!

  Children's Animated Television (CAT) believes in positive future for
  all children...

  CAT's philosophy is to help solve today's complex social problems
  through honest and open dialogue, education, information and
  compromise...

  CAT will produce video programs for pre-teens and teens to stimulate
  their minds, harness their creativity and imaginations to cultivate
  long-lasting answers to problems in their world...

  As a public service, CAT will also provide educational information
  using all available technology including a computer bulletin board,
  World Wide Web site and other electronic media. CAT will supply this
  knowledge for children, parents and educators to enable our society
  to develop ideas and solutions for a better tomorrow...

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