The Dru Project

The Dru Project honors Christopher Andrew "Drew" Leinonen, one of the 49 people killed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12, 2016, by investing in LGBTQ+ young people and the gay-straight alliances that support them. In 2002 Drew launched the first gay-straight alliance at Seminole High School in Seminole, Florida, work that earned him the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award from the St. Pete Holocaust Museum. "The Dru Project" was his online name since high school, and the friends who founded the organization carry it forward.

The Spirit of Drew Scholarship supports students headed to college or trade school who reflect Drew's commitment to unity, inclusion and love. Applications open each spring, and funds go directly to the recipient's school. A Student Loan Debt Grant helps a former student with the weight of student debt. The Dru Project has also funded GSA grants to support and affirm gay-straight alliances in Florida, along with mini-grants for out-of-work drag entertainers.

Its GSA Guide, first released in 2017 and downloaded in 48 states and 14 countries, gives students and advisors practical tools for building and sustaining inclusive clubs. The updated edition adds intersectional perspectives from a team of editors of many backgrounds, along with new strategies for advocacy and support. The goal is a physical copy in every school that needs one.

Students can apply for the scholarship and the student loan grant each spring, and anyone can download the guide from the website. Supporters can give online or by mail, and follow the work on Facebook and Instagram.