First off, I want to thank you! Because of your support, Equity Foundation provided over $336,000 in grants and college scholarships during the previous fiscal year. Our scholarship funds combined have given out a record $68,000 in LGBT scholarships over the past 12 months!
I wanted to share with you some examples of how your donations are impacting community organizations and grantees in need:
PHAME Academy received our single largest competitive grant of $14,500 from the Portland 100 Fund of Equity Foundation for their “H is for Honored Tour”. This will give adults with developmental disabilities a chance to star in a public performance as actors, musicians and artists.
We supported PFLAG with a grant of $1,190. PFLAG Oregon Central Coast responded to the suicide of a young man from a high school in Newport who was bullied by requesting a grant from Equity to educate the students, teachers, parents, bus drivers, janitors and all members of the school community about the effects of bullying. A small grant went a long way to make sure this does not happen again! With these resources they were able to educate a key high school community to minimize this threat for future students.
As we approach the end of the tax year we again ask for your support so we can continue our work in the LGBT and other diverse communities. Given the recent number of LGBT youth suicides now more than ever is our work important. By giving to Equity Foundation, you are touching more than just one organization; you are making your dollar stretch by touching organizations all across the state. In troubled economic times, non-profit organizations, especially LGBT organizations, need funding now more than ever in order to operate in the still sluggish economy throughout 2012. Sadly, we all know that during hard economic times, minority groups including LGBT people, people of color and immigrants often experience more pointed discrimination.
Your contribution of $1,000, $500, $250, $100, $50 or whatever you can afford is needed now to ensure that we continue to get money out to our communities next year. Your contribution is tax-deductable. Please submit a check to us of any amount, or visit our DONATE page! Please also talk to your employer about giving to Equity Foundation through our Workplace Giving (payroll deduction) campaigns.
Thank you for your continued giving. With your help, I’m hopeful that 2012 will be our strongest year yet.
Sincerely,
Peter S. Cunningham
Executive Director
PS. Here is Equity Foundation Annual Report FY2011.
