TLC CELEBRATES TRANSGENDER TEEN JAZZ JENNINGS, TV PERSONALITY/HOST KELLY OSBOURNE, AWARD-WINNING DANCER/ACTOR DEREK HOUGH, RECORDING ARTIST JESSIE CHRIS AND THREE NATIONAL CONTEST WINNERS AT SECOND ANNUAL “GIVE A LITTLE” AWARDS
Top Left: Dancer/Actor and GAL Honoree Derek Hough, GAL Honoree and TV Personality Kelly Osbourne, Recording artist and GAL Honoree Jessie Chris, TLC Star and GAL Honoree Jazz Jennings and TLC star and GAL host Randy Fenoli
Top Right: Dancer/Actor and GAL Honoree Derek Hough, GAL Honoree and TV Personality Kelly Osbourne, President and General Manager of TLC, Howard Lee, Recording artist and GAL Honoree Jessie Chris, TLC Star and GAL Honoree Jazz Jennings and TLC star and GAL host Randy Fenoli, Discovery’s Chief Human Resources & Global Diversity Officer, Adria Alpert Romm
Bottom: (Back Row) TLC star and GAL host Randy Fenoli, GAL Honoree and TV Personality Kelly Osbourne, Love is Louder Co-Founder Brittany Snow, President and General Manager of TLC, Howard Lee, Recording artist and GAL Honoree Jessie Chris, TLC Star and GAL Honoree Jazz Jennings, Dancer/Actor and GAL Honoree Derek Hough, Redbook’s Editorial Director, Jane Francisco, Bridal designer Hayley Paige; (Front Row) GAL contest winners Jaylen Arnold, Carlee Grossman and Kristen Caminiti
(Photos by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for TLC)
Link to view 2018 Give A Little PSA (feat. Jazz Jennings): https://www.facebook.com/TLC/
(New York, NY) – TLC, in partnership with Redbook magazine and Love Is Louder, a project of The Jed Foundation, gathered several influential advocates, celebs and industry executives for a great cause last night at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York City. In an effort to celebrate those taking a stand against bullying, TLC hosted its second annual GIVE A LITTLE Awards, an extension of its national multiplatform campaign dedicated to empowering individuals to make a difference in the lives of those in need by giving a little time, support and compassion. Among this year’s honorees were TLC star Jazz Jennings, TV personality/host Kelly Osbourne, Emmy Award-winning choreographer, actor and author Derek Hough, recording artist Jessie Chris and three national contest winners who are actively deploying various bullying prevention tactics in their communities: Kristen Caminiti (Kindness Grows Here), Dianne Grossman (Mallory’s Army) and Jaylen Arnold (Jaylens Challenge). Other notable guests in attendance included actress and Love is Louder co-founder, Brittany Snow; actor Dash Mihok; bridal designer Hayley Paige; TLC President and General Manager, Howard Lee; Discovery’s Chief Human Resources & Global Diversity Officer, Adria Alpert Romm; SVP, National Ad Sales, Karen Grinthal; Redbook’s Editorial Director, Jane Francisco; and founder of the Little Words Project, Adriana Carrig.
Hosted by beloved wedding dress designer and star of TLC’s “Say Yes to the Dress,” Randy Fenoli, guests were treated to an inspiring night filled with lots of laughs, a few tears and a renewed sense of hope and determination in continuing the fight against bullying. Many of the honorees touched on common themes within their acceptance speeches, including the importance of speaking up and sharing one’s story, and combating bullying through kindness, compassion and positivity. Upon receiving the first award of the night, Jessie Chris, who kicked off the evening with an emotional performance of her hit single “Rome,” recalled being bullied by her classmates, who repeatedly told her to give up on her dreams of singing. She shared with the audience that had she not found the strength to block out those negative comments and keep pushing forward, she wouldn’t be where she is today.
Before Jazz Jennings took the stage to accept her award, TLC unveiled its 2018 PSA (see link above) featuring the transgender teen advocate. Echoing the advice she shared with other bullied kids in the video, Jennings told the crowd: “You have the power to change your thoughts, and your thoughts affect your attitude… so speak positivity over yourself.” Derek Hough encouraged attendees to find simple ways to spread love and he feels it’s important to “give people the tools they need to be the hero of their own stories.” Love is Louder co-founder Brittany Snow said that one of the goals of her organization is to “create kinder communities where we can help, instead of harm.” Kelly Osbourne, who was the last honoree of the night, had a heartfelt message for Jennings, saying that the way the influential teen has handled critics and carried herself with such grace and dignity over the years has been awe-inspiring.
Additionally, the “Give a Little” (GAL) contest winners, Kristen Caminiti, Dianne Grossman and Jaylen Arnold, were lauded by the honorees and the audience alike for their bullying prevention efforts in their communities. Each winner will receive a $5,000 donation to the bullying prevention program of their choice and their stories will be featured in the October 2018 issue of Redbook magazine, on newsstands September 25.
As part of TLC’s ongoing initiative to raise awareness and educate people about bullying, the network is partnering with a few organizations to raise money for its nonprofit partner, Love is Louder. Timed to National Bullying Prevention Month (October), TLC is teaming up with Georgetown Cupcake to create an exclusive “Give a Little” (GAL) cupcake which will be available for purchase in all brick and mortar shops and through their website. For each GAL cupcake sold, TLC will donate $1 to Love is Louder. In-store customers will also be able to pick from a selection of free buttons inscribed with various kindness quotes. In addition, TLC has partnered with the Little Words Project to create a special GAL bracelet for the month of October, with 25% of the proceeds going to Love is Louder. TLC is also working with t-shirt distributor, Fifth Sun, to create a t-shirt centered around “kindness,” that will be sold on Amazon. Part of the proceeds will go to Love is Louder. Furthermore, TLC is activating a social media campaign asking people what they are doing to #givealittle. For every related post utilizing the hashtag, TLC will donate $1 to Love is Louder.
The 2018 GIVE A LITTLE Honorees:
Jazz Jennings, star of the GLAAD Award winning TLC series, “I Am Jazz,” is a 17-year-old transgender teenager, an LGBTQ rights activist and author. Jennings is no stranger to discrimination and she has been breaking barriers for most of her life -- she is one of the youngest publicly-documented people to be identified as transgender, and the youngest person to become a national transgender figure. She wasn’t allowed to use the girls’ restroom in her school for five years and she was prohibited from playing girls’ soccer in her state for two and a half years. After a long battle, the United States Soccer Federation (USFF) ordered her home state to lift the ban. As a result of the discrimination that the teen was forced to endure, the USSF created a policy to include all transgender athletes who want to play soccer in the United States of America. Jennings has accumulated numerous prestigious awards and honors throughout her lifetime, including TIME Magazine's Most Influential Teens (2014 and 2015), The Advocate magazine’s “Top Forty Under 40” annual list, OUT Magazine’s Top 100 list, Teen Vogue’s “21 under 21” list, HRC's Upstander Award for 2017 and the 2015 Trevor Youth Courage Award to name a few. In 2016, “I Am Jazz” won a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Reality Program and Jennings served as the 2016 Grand Marshal in the New York City Pride March, making her the youngest person to serve as Grand Marshal in the history of the march. Along with Jessica Herthel, Jennings co-wrote the children’s picture book “I Am Jazz” and Jennings authored her memoir, “Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen.” Alongside her family, Jennings continues to participate in many projects with a goal to educate and spread the message of tolerance and acceptance for all trans kids.
Kelly Osbourne first came to prominence while appearing on the reality series, “The Osbournes” with her family, and she has since built a successful career as a television personality, host, fashion designer, singer and actress. Osbourne was a co-host on E!’s hit show, “Fashion Police,” from 2010 to 2015, and she is frequently found on the red carpet at top award shows and key events. Osbourne was recently seen on the judging panel for “Project Runway: Junior” which features teenage contestants. In June 2014, Osbourne released a collection of M*A*C Cosmetics she co-created with her mother, Sharon. Additionally, in April 2017, Osbourne published her new book entitled, There Is No F*cking Secret: Letters from a Badass Bitch, in which she details her experience being bullied as an adult in various forms and her fight to rise above the negativity. Osbourne has been a longtime supporter and ally to the LGBTQ community, partnering with various organizations like The Trevor Project to shed a light on the discrimination faced by the queer community worldwide. In general, she has always encouraged people to just be themselves, to have pride in who they are and unite together. She was honored with the Trevor Hero Award at Trevor Live in December 2016.
Emmy Award-winning and New York Times Best-Selling author Derek Hough started dancing in his hometown of Salt Lake City, UT, at age 11. A year later, he moved to London to live and train with the top dance coaches in the world and attend the prestigious Italia Conti performing arts school. The multi-talented entertainer, two-time Emmy Award winner and nine-time nominee for Best Choreography has also appeared in film, television and stage projects as an actor. Hough’s feature film debut was Make Your Move, directed by Duane Adler, and he also had a recurring role on the ABC series “Nashville.” In December 2016, Hough starred with Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Martin Short and Harvey Fierstein in NBC’s Hairspray Live! In May 2017, Hough joined Jennifer Lopez and Ne-Yo at the judges table for the NBC series “World of Dance,” which launched as the highest rated summer show in over ten years. Hough can also add best-selling author to his list of credits. His memoir Taking the Lead; Lessons from a Life in Motion hit stands in August 2014 and was quickly named to the prestigious New York Times Best-Seller list during two non-consecutive time periods. Derek has been vocal about his experience being horribly bullied, both physically and mentally, while growing up. He has not only danced his way to success, but he has forgiven the people who performed these horrific acts, and he continues to encourage people to share more kindness, compassion and love.
Rising star Jessie Chris’ advocacy for bullying prevention runs deep. The 2018 Billboard Artist to Watch and Elvis Duran's TODAY Show Artist of The Month was a victim of bullying in school and she has been able to use her music as a platform to bring awareness to the issue and empower those going through similar situations. Her life’s mission is to educate people on how they can work together to prevent the negative impact of bullying. Chris set a personal goal to visit at least 100 schools in 2018 to speak with students about bullying prevention. She has visited 51 schools to date and she is scheduled to visit over 75 this fall. In addition to her music, Chris is the face of The Ad Council’s #BeMore Campaign as well as Sylvania Lighting’s #BeTheLight Campaign. She has also authored a children’s book on bullying which is scheduled for release in September 2018. Chris recently released her latest single and empowerment anthem “Rome,” written by Jessie Chris, Summer Overstreet and David Spencer, which she first performed as the featured artist at this year’s Gracie Awards in New York City.
The 2018 GIVE A LITTLE contest winners:
Kristen Caminiti (Kindness Grows Here)
Kristen Caminiti saw a desperate need for positivity and set out to spread kindness along with her husband and three kids. It started out simple: they would hand out small bags of Hershey's Hugs to random bystanders and they would give each of their children $5 at Starbucks to buy coffee for a stranger. They were consistently greeted with tears, gratitude, and smiles. This inspired Kristen to start Kindness Grows Here, a foundation dedicated to fostering kindness in children and spreading kindness in the community, which has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is well-respected in the community and continues to expand its reach and impact. Additionally, as a social worker, Caminiti has developed a curriculum to combat bullying in schools, benefiting over 1,000 students to date. Through her “Who Do You Want to Be RIGHT NOW” presentations, she defines what bullying is and how to avoid being a bully. She encourages kids to decide what kind of person they want to be and walks them through the types of words, actions, and decisions that are necessary to become that type of person. Moreover, Caminiti partners with elementary, middle, and high schools to create Kindness Campaigns. She tailors her strategies to the unique needs of each school with the goal of spreading kindness and preventing bullying. She also hosts community wide anti-bullying events and kindness themed events such as her recent “Celebration of Differences.”
Dianne Grossman (Mallory’s Army)
Dianne’s daughter, Mallory Rose Grossman, died by suicide last year. She had been struggling with intense bullying during the last year of her life. Dianne and her family eventually founded Mallory’s Army Foundation, a 501.C3 Charitable Foundation, in order to cope with and channel their grief. Through the foundation, the Grossmans are able to share their personal story as a way to encourage schools to be the change they want see while empowering children to become humanitarians and the positive CEOs of their hallways. The family hosts workshops and provides parents with the necessary tools to educate themselves about their children as well as the many pressures and dangers they face. Mallory’s mantra was “It’s a bracelet KIND of life,” and her foundation chooses to focus on her life rather than her death. Mallory often made and sold homemade crafts like bracelets and hand scrubs in an effort to raise money for Camp Good Days, a camp for kids with cancer. Mallory believed that something as small as a homemade bracelet could remind people to be kinder to one another, much like tying a string on a finger as a reminder to buy milk or bread. Mallory’s family has adopted this mantra as a way to inspire kids and help them embrace a kinder lifestyle. To date, the Grossmans have sold and given away over 60k silicone bands in memory of Mallory.
Jaylen Arnold (Jaylens Challenge)
Jaylen Arnold is 17 years old and has been sharing his leadership in classrooms across the United States and the UK for the past nine years. After being bullied for having Tourette Syndrome and Autism, Arnold decided to take a bold stand when he was 8 years old. With the help of a few adults, he created the concept for Jaylen’s Challenge Foundation, Inc., and developed a plan to educate students and the public about the prevalence of bullying in schools and workplaces. With his Motto “Bullying No Way!” he set out to change the world one person at a time through awareness and education. Arnold has spoken to more than 220,000 students in face-to-face assemblies, while providing a much-needed anti-bullying curriculum. He had his own show on Nickelodeon called “The HALO Effect,” and he has also been featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”; on covers of HIGHLIGHTS Children’s Magazine; in People Magazine alongside actress Anne Hathaway; and in a Discovery Health documentary called “Tourette’s Uncovered.” This influential teenager has received the Young Hero Award for Philanthropy, The American Spirit Award from Katie Couric, Community Hero Award from the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning, and the highly esteemed World of Children Award. Arnold is also the only American to receive the prestigious Princess Diana Legacy Award by HRH’s Prince William and Harry. During the 2018 NBA playoffs, Arnold partnered with prominent athlete LeBron James for a bullying awareness campaign through Instagram.
ABOUT REDBOOK
Redbook (www.redbookmag.com) is the lifestyle guide for today’s modern women, full of accessible fashion, real beauty, smart health advice, easy recipes and chic décor tricks. Curating the very best products and ideas, Redbook helps its 10 million readers enjoy their nonstop lives. Winner of Adweek’s “Hottest Women’s Magazine” in 2015, the iconic brand thrives in print, online, mobile and social, making great style accessible for every woman. With 25 titles in the U.S., Hearst is the largest publisher of monthly magazines with a total paid circulation of over 36 million (AAM 1H 2017). Hearst Magazines’ print and digital assets reach nearly 137 million readers and site visitors each month–more than two-thirds of all women and millennial women in the country (source: 2017 comScore Multi-Platform/MRI 09-17/S17). Hearst Digital Media has 143 million followers across social. Follow Redbook on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT LOVE IS LOUDER
Love is Louder is a community of people working together to create a world where we all feel more connected and supported. A project of The Jed Foundation co-founded with actress Brittany Snow, Love is Louder works online and on the ground with advocates, campuses and communities to tackle issues like bullying, body image, discrimination and depression. Join us at www.loveislouder.com.
ABOUT TLC
Offering remarkable real-life stories without judgment, TLC shares everyday heart, humor, hope, and human connection with programming genres that include fascinating families, heartwarming transformations, and life’s milestone moments. TLC is a top 10 network across key female demos.
TLC is a global brand available in more than 87 million homes in the US and 279 million households around the world. Viewers can enjoy their favorite shows anytime, anywhere through TLC GO – the network’s TVE offering featuring live and on demand access to complete seasons. A destination online, TLC.com offers in-depth fan sites and exclusive original video content. Fans can also interact with TLC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and Pinterest. TLC is part of Discovery (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), reaching 3 billion cumulative viewers in more than 220 countries and territories to satisfy curiosity and captivate superfans with a portfolio of premium nonfiction, lifestyle, sports and kids content brands.
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