James Lecesne to be Honored by Paramus Foundation

Bergen County native James Lecesne is set to be honored by the CarePlus Foundation of Paramus for his "work in reducing the stigma that the LGBTQ community faces" at the foundation's annual gala later this month.

Lecesne is the co-founder of The Trevor Project, an organization which works to prevent suicides among gay teens and adults and operates the only nationwide 24-hour crisis hotline for gay youth.

The Project was named for Lecesne's film Trevor, for which he won an Academy Award in 1995. He has also acted in numerous plays, most recently in Gore Vidal’s The Best Man on Broadway.

The Care Plus Foundation "was created with a mission to decrease the stigma of mental illness and pave the way to accessibility of care for those looking to seek help," according to the group.

They decided to honor Lecesne this year because he has previously worked with the foundation's A.L.L.I.E.S. group.

The foundation will honor Lecesne and others, including Julia Orlando of the Bergen County Housing, Health, and Human Services Center, Mary Ann Uzzi of the CarePlus Foundation and Nancy Schuring of Devon Fine Jewelry in Wyckoff at their gala May 29 at the Venetian in Garfield.

For more information about the foundation and their gala, check out their website.