Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth
About Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth
Founded in March 2016 to honor the memory of Sam Harel Price, a junior at Oberlin College, the Sam & Devorah Foundation for Trans Youth has grown into a nationwide movement centered on empowering trans and non-binary young people to live authentically and thrive. Operating from Chatham, NJ, this youth-driven organization is built on the conviction that meaningful change and safety for trans youth can only be achieved when trans people themselves lead the work. The foundation's mission goes beyond traditional support services—it cultivates a vibrant, intergenerational community where trans and non-binary young people connect with peers across the nation, build life-changing relationships, and experience genuine belonging. Guided by core values of diversity, intersectionality, equity, and trans joy, the organization creates intentional spaces that affirm the complexity of young people's identities and lived experiences, particularly centering those at the intersections of multiple marginalized identities. The foundation recognizes that joy is a powerful force for individual and collective liberation, resistance, and resilience, weaving celebration and fun throughout all programming. By grounding their work in cultural humility and the voices of the young people they serve, Sam & Devorah Foundation empowers trans and non-binary youth to step into their power, develop self-confidence and self-agency, and become agents of positive change in their own lives and communities. Through mentoring, retreats, and skill-building opportunities, the organization demonstrates that when trans youth are supported with care, resources, and opportunities to explore their identities, they flourish.