The LGBT Community Endowment Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Utah, awarded grants of $53,500 to 12 organizations throughout Utah who are addressing the most pressing issues of the LGBTQ community at a reception held in their honor at the new S.J. Quinney College of Law building at the University of Utah.
Organized by the fund’s founders and selection committee, John Barabino, Jane Marquardt, Jim Dabakis, and Michelle Turpin, this event was created to spotlight the good work that is being done by nonprofits throughout the state.
“The LGBT Community Endowment allows many donors to invest in programs that are truly making a difference in the lives of all Utahns, gay and straight,” said Jane Marquardt,one of the LGBT Community Endowment Fund committee members, “From arts performance, youth mentoring, education, leadership training, financial assistance for medical and dental care for LGBT seniors, an internship, and more, the LGBT Fund is again demonstrating the power of LGBT philanthropy and its commitment to the health and well-being of everyone in our state.”
In addition to assisting nonprofits through awarding grants and raising awareness, the reception helped to foster collaboration and provide additional support for the LGBT community in Utah. After receiving grant awards, the 2015 grantees each had an opportunity to give a one-minute pitch for their organization. Select judges in the audience were asked to cast their votes for their top three pitches who would receive an additional $3,000 that evening. With an unexpended twist, a generous donor in attendance offered an additional $10,500 in order to ensure that all organizations received additional funding. In the end, Youth Futures, Westminster College and OUTreach Resource Centers received the most votes and received an extra $1,500. The other nine grantees each also received an additional $1,000.
“The positive impact of the LGBT community is evident in its intellectual, financial, community, family and artistic contributions. As one of the more than 200 philanthropic funds we manage, we are grateful to support their efforts, which better the lives of all Utahns,” explains Alex Eaton, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Utah.
Grants were awarded to:
· J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah – for the expansion of holdings of Kristen Ries/Maggie Snyder History of HIV/AIDS in Utah Collection
· Office of Inclusion and Outreach, University of Utah – for the Annual Health Care Provider Summit: Expanding the Knowledge of LGBT Healthcare
· Utah Pride Center – for Moab Pride and a Community Needs Assessment
· Youth Futures Shelter Home– for General Operating Support
· Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah – for the LGBT Mentors Program
· Senior Charity Care Foundation – for Financial Assistance For Medical and Dental Care for LGBT Seniors
· Westminster College –for an LGBT Programming Intern
· OUTreach Resource Centers– for the Drop –In Center in Ogden
· Utah Museum of Contemporary Art– for the Out Loud Mentoring Program
· Equality Utah– for the Harvey Milk Leadership Training Academy
· Utah Film Center– for the Damn These Heels! LGBT Film Festival
· Pioneer Craft House – for Senior LGBT Adult Arts & Drafts Classes
The LGBT Community Endowment Fund was created to pool giving from members of the LGBT community and their allies. The fund has made over $250,000 in grants since its inception in 2011.
