FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YES Institute Celebrates 30 Years of Impact with
“Luminous Voices, Limitless Futures: Celebrating 30 Years”
Miami, FL — [08/29/2025] — YES Institute, a South Florida nonprofit dedicated to preventing suicide and ensuring the healthy development of youth through communication and education, proudly announces its 30th anniversary celebration: “Luminous Voices, Limitless Futures: Celebrating 30 Years.”
Since 1996, YES Institute has been a trusted community partner, bringing schools, families, and organizations together to create spaces of safety and belonging for all young people. Through dialogue, education, and training, the Institute has reached tens of thousands across Miami-Dade, Broward, and beyond—equipping parents, educators, healthcare providers, and community leaders with the tools to support youth in living authentic, thriving lives.
The 30-year milestone will be marked with a signature anniversary celebration on Saturday, February 28, 2026, aboard the Biscayne Lady Yacht in Miami. The evening will gather community leaders, families, educators, mental health professionals, and longtime supporters to honor three decades of transformative work while charting a course for the future.
“Our theme, ‘Luminous Voices, Limitless Futures: Celebrating 30 Years,’ elevates the collective voice of our community and the limitless possibilities ahead,” said Joseph Zolobczuk, Executive Director of YES Institute. “Together, we will celebrate the impact of the past 30 years and inspire hope for generations to come.”
The anniversary celebration will feature powerful stories from youth and families, recognition of community leaders, and an evening of inspiration and connection, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Biscayne Bay. Businesses and individuals are invited to become sponsors and play a vital role in ensuring the success and lasting impact of this milestone event.
Event Details:
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- What: YES Institute 30-Year Celebration — “Luminous Voices, Limitless Futures: Celebrating 30 Years”
- When: Saturday, February 28, 2026
- Where: Biscayne Lady Yacht, Miami, FL
- Who: Open to community leaders, supporters, families, and friends of YES Institute
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For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or media inquiries, please contact:
Claire Tolman
Event Manager
YES Institute
Phone: 305-663-7195
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://yesinstitute.org/30/
About YES Institute
YES Institute is a nonprofit organization based in Miami, Florida, with a mission to prevent suicide and ensure the healthy development of youth through powerful communication and education on gender, orientation, and social inclusion. Since 1996, YES Institute has partnered with schools, healthcare providers, businesses, and families to create communities where all youth can thrive.
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YES Institute is available to serve as a resource for journalists and media seeking knowledge related to gender and orientation topics. Contact us at [email protected] for further information.
Our Vision & Mission
The vision of YES Institute is a community in which all youth are free of suicide, violence, and discrimination. The mission of YES Institute is to prevent suicide and ensure the healthy development of all youth through powerful communication and education on gender and orientation.
Statistics
- Among South Florida high school youth, the suicide attempt rate is 5% for youth who identify as heterosexual and 24% for youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or are unsure of their orientation. Source: CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2021.
- National surveys show that 45% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year including more than half of transgender and nonbinary youth. (Source: Trevor Project 2022 Survey). https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/
Bullying Behavior Statistics
- 81% of Florida high school and 62% of Florida middle school students report hearing verbal slurs (‘faggot’, ‘dyke’, ‘That’s so gay,’) on a daily or weekly basis.
- 34% of Florida middle and high school students report using anti-gay or gender-related words or jokes to tease others on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
- 27% of Florida middle and high students report witnessing anti-gay or gender-related physical harassment or bullying on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Source: McEwing, E., Zolobczuk, J.M., Huynh, K.D., Gonzalez, A.A., Lee, D.L. (2018). Incidences of school-based anti-gay and gender-related bullying: Differences across levels of education. Florida Public Health Review, 15, 25-35.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/fphr/vol15/iss1/3/
Our Focus
YES Institute utilizes powerful communication through dialogue and education to raise awareness and target the root causes of stigma and rejection. YES Institute boldly asks, “What message or communication is having young people feel they don’t belong, and are not loved?What could be different in our schools, families, and faith communities so youth never turn to self-harm in the first place?”
Available on virtual platforms and in-person, our bilingual English/Spanish education team is sought out as guest speakers and consultants for leading school districts, workplaces, mental health and medical providers, and many other community partners who serve youth and families.
For more information about YES Institute, please visit Who We Are and 25 Years of Service.
Disclaimer
YES Institute is a nonpartisan, nondenominational educational nonprofit intended for everyone, inclusive of diverse beliefs, cultures, abilities, viewpoints, and backgrounds.
Given that the foundation of our work is opening conversations on gender and orientation, sometimes the assumption is made that YES Institute is an “LGBTQ” organization. It is inaccurate to describe YES Institute as an LGBTQ organization or an advocacy group.
Further Media Inquiries
Contact us at 305-663-7195 or email.
Logo for Media Use
NOTICE: Before using the YES Institute logo or images, you must obtain written usage consent by YES Institute staff. If creating a promo flyer or social media graphic to share about a collaborative event with YES Institute, please have staff approve your flyer or graphic before posting to the general public.
For use until 12/31/2026
