The Dru Project Founders Received Inspiration Award
Sara Grossman and Brandon Wolf accepted the honor at the 2026 Attitude Awards before closing their organization.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in LGBTQand
Sara Grossman and Brandon Wolf accepted the Inspiration Award at the 15th annual Attitude Awards in London. The pair founded The Dru Project in 2016 to honor the legacy of Drew Leinonen following the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando.
Why it matters
The founders are sunsetting the organization after 10 years of operation to provide scholarships and educational resources for LGBTQ+ youth. They transitioned the group to this final stage after concluding it had reached a stable and impactful point in its mission.
The Dru Project operated for 10 years after its 2016 establishment, following the Pulse nightclub shooting that claimed 49 lives. The award was presented at the 15th edition of the ceremony held at London's Roundhouse.
The players
Sara Grossman
She is a co-founder of The Dru Project who helped create educational resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
Brandon Wolf
He is a co-founder of The Dru Project who worked to honor the legacy of victims from the 2016 nightclub shooting.
Drew Leinonen
He was a victim of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting whose life inspired the creation of the organization.
Jonny Woo
He is a performer and presenter who handed the Inspiration Award to the founders at the ceremony.
The details
Founded by friends of Drew Leinonen to honor his memory, the group evolved into a resource for LGBTQ+ youth through scholarships and educational support. Founders Grossman and Wolf received the honor from presenter Jonny Woo during the ceremony at the Roundhouse.
Timeline
12 June 2016: The Pulse nightclub shooting occurred in Orlando.
2016: The Dru Project was founded by the award recipients.
7 October 2026: The Attitude Awards ceremony took place at the Roundhouse.
2026: The Dru Project is officially sunsetting.
Culture Shift
The Dru Project followed a decade-long pattern of grassroots advocacy that emerged directly from the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting. Its decision to sunset reflects a rare and intentional shift toward concluding an organization's work once its primary educational objectives have been achieved.
The closure of this organization marks the end of a specific scholarship pipeline that has supported LGBTQ+ students for the last decade. Future applicants will need to look toward other regional or national grants as the project concludes its operations.
The takeaway
The successful sunsetting of The Dru Project demonstrates how non-profits can reach a natural conclusion after meeting their long-term goals. Founders and advocates can use this model to prioritize the long-term sustainability of the causes they serve rather than maintaining structures indefinitely.
Further reading
Learn more about the community's recent milestones in our LGBTQand section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Attitude.
