NEW ORLEANS – The Greater New Orleans Foundation will launch the LGBT Fund today that will channel charitable contributions to local organizations supporting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
The fund is being launched today, Friday, June 24, 2016, on the anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge fire, which was intentionally set in 1973 at a gay bar in the French Quarter and resulted in the death of 32 people. Until last week’s mass shooting in Orlando, the UpStairs Lounge fire had been the deadliest known attack on a gay club in U.S. history.
“The Greater New Orleans Foundation is playing a vital role of raising awareness and support for organizations that represent the interests of LGBT communities,” said Cheryl Teamer, board chair of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. “This fund will allow us to better understand LGBT challenges in the community and find ways to address them.”
Teamer also noted that no fees will be assessed by the Foundation to administer this fund, so every dollar can be put straight to work in our community.
Nonprofit organizations serving Orleans Parish that are working to improve the quality of life for members of the LGBT community can apply for grants by midnight on Friday, July 15, 2016.
The Foundation anticipates awarding 10 to 15 grants in the first round. The amounts will vary between $5,000 and $10,000. The winners will be announced in late August.
For nearly a year, the Foundation has been raising money for the LGBT Fund from individual donors and national funders. “As the public response to the recent tragedy in Orlando has shown, there is great power in people coming together to take a stand against hatred and violence,” Erin McQuade-Wright, vice president for donor relations at the Greater New Orleans Foundation, said. “Here in New Orleans, people are standing up for local organizations by making a gift to the LGBT Fund.”
Contribute to the LGBT Fund here