The Dru Project founders Sara Grossman and Brandon Wolf have received the Inspiration Award at London’s Attitude Awards 2026, honouring a decade of work supporting LGBTQ+ young people through scholarships, school grants and practical resources. Their emotional speech showed how one friendship can grow into a lasting movement.
A moving tribute takes centre stage
The strongest moment of the evening belonged to The Dru Project, whose founders travelled from Florida to the Roundhouse to accept the Inspiration Award. Presented by drag performer and queer venue owner Jonny Woo, the honour recognised a project built from grief, friendship and determined community action.
Grossman and Wolf created the organisation in 2016, following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people died. The pair had been close to Drew Leinonen, one of the victims, and wanted to turn the pain of losing him into something that could help LGBTQ+ students feel safer and more supported. According to Attitude, that decision became the foundation of The Dru Project. [2]
Wolf spoke candidly about the strange details grief leaves behind, describing the need to keep old voicemails and clothing because memories can feel fragile. His message was both intimate and defiant: the project would honour Drew by helping young people claim space, confidence and belonging. [2]
From one friend’s memory to a national network
The Dru Project has focused on tangible support rather than symbolism alone. Its work includes scholarships for LGBTQ+ students, grants for school-based groups and educational material designed to help young people and their allies understand queer experiences. The organisation’s own background information presents that combination as central to its mission. [3]
That practical approach matters. A student group might need funding for an event, a young person may need help staying in education, and teachers or allies might simply be searching for clear, accessible guidance. The project has aimed to meet those needs without losing sight of the warmth behind its name.
Grossman described Drew as someone who brought energy into every room. Her recollections, including his love of pop music and Eurovision, made the tribute feel refreshingly human. Behind the public legacy was not an abstract symbol, but a friend with very specific passions and a memorable personality. [2]
Why LGBTQ+ youth support still matters
For LGBTQ+ young people, support often comes through a mixture of small acts and organised resources. A welcoming school group, a scholarship or a trusted guide can change whether someone feels isolated or able to imagine a future that fits them.
The Dru Project’s work sits within that wider need for community-led support. Its resources have been shared with students and allies, while its grant and scholarship programmes have helped direct money towards people and groups doing the work on the ground. Information from the organisation and nonprofit listings highlights those strands of activity. [3] [4]
There’s also a useful lesson here for supporters. Donations are not the only way to help, although they can make a direct difference. Showing up at LGBTQ+ events, supporting queer-owned venues and sharing reliable educational material all form part of the same ecosystem. Grossman framed that continued participation as a kind of transmission, with the original message travelling far beyond its starting point. [2]
What the project’s next chapter means
Grossman said the organisation was approaching a significant transition after reaching what she described as an “incredible place”. Rather than presenting that moment as an ending, she spoke about passing the work forward and allowing its ideas to continue through the people it has reached.
That shift reflects a familiar reality for charities: a project can evolve once its tools, knowledge and community connections are established. The Dru Project’s scholarship information and donation channels show how supporters can still engage with its work and help sustain opportunities for LGBTQ+ students. [5] [6]
For anyone looking to support a similar cause, it’s worth checking where funds go, whether eligibility rules are clear and whether the organisation publishes a current account of its programmes. A warm story can open the door, but transparent delivery is what keeps trust alive.
An award with a wider message
The Attitude Awards brought the founders into a room celebrating LGBTQ+ figures and allies from entertainment, fashion, sport and culture. Other winners included Jordan Stephens, Michael Johnston and Donatella Versace, but The Dru Project offered a different kind of spotlight: one focused on youth support and the long afterlife of community care. [2]
Wolf and Grossman’s appearance also showed why recognition matters. Awards can’t replace funding, safeguarding or direct support, but they can introduce an organisation to people who may never have encountered it before. In that sense, the evening’s applause became another small way of extending the project’s reach.
Drew’s memory remains at the heart of the story, but the achievement belongs to every student, volunteer, donor and ally who helped carry it forward. That’s a powerful legacy, and a reassuring reminder that grief can be reshaped into something generous.
Choose support that keeps LGBTQ+ young people seen, safe and able to thrive.
Source Reference Map
Story idea inspired by: [1]
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