Award Program Promotes Equality, Shares Spirit of Philanthropy
[Colorado Springs, Colo.] The nomination process for the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado’s Advancing Equality Award program is open to the public for the first time this year. The awards are given to organizations and individuals that demonstrate a commitment to making Colorado a more equal, welcoming, and inclusive state for all people. Winners donate their award monies to the Colorado nonprofit organization of their choice – making this an award program that reaches potentially hundreds of additional Coloradans with the spirit of philanthropy.
“Winners of the Advancing Equality awards are powerful voices for equality. They drive positive change within their spheres of influence and are willing to stand up for social justice,” said Mary Lou Makepeace, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Fund.
Winners each receive $5,000 and are recognized in one of five categories: Outstanding Nonprofit Organization, Outstanding Public Official, Outstanding Community Supporter, Youth Advocate for Excellence, and Stonewall Supporter of Gay and Transgender Rights.
By allocating their awards to the nonprofit of their choice, winners become stewards of advancing equality with the ability to further promote the importance of equal opportunity, fairness, and high quality of life for all Coloradans. Past honorees have applied their awards toward a variety of worthwhile causes:
- Colorado State Senator John Morse donated his award money to The Resource Exchange, a provider of services to the developmentally disabled in Colorado Springs.
- The Anti-Defamation League directed its award to the organization’s No Place for Hate® initiative, reaching 19 schools in Colorado and Southern Wyoming with programs to help create safe, inclusive, and welcoming school communities for all students.
- The Colorado Springs Conservatory used its award money to fund music scholarships for low-income students.
- Ray Aguilera of Pueblo donated his award to the Pueblo Hispanic Education Foundation to provide assistance with college scholarships for Latino/a students.
- The Colorado Anti-Violence Program applied its award toward operating expenses to combat violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender persons.
- Former Mayor Steve Burkholder of Lakewood allocated his award money to the city’s Commission for Inclusive Community.
- Lon Matejczyk, publisher of the Colorado Springs Business Journal, donated his award to the Community Service Fund of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs, which dispersed the money to a variety of nonprofit organizations.
This year’s award nomination form is available in the “Advancing Equality” section of the Gay & Lesbian Fund’s web site. The nomination deadline is November 2.
Honorees will be recognized at the Gay & Lesbian Fund’s annual holiday open house event on December 9, 2009, at 5:30pm, at 315 East Costilla Street, Colorado Springs.
About the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado
The Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado was established in 1996 as a project of the Gill Foundation. It has provided financial support and critical resources to hundreds of high-impact nonprofit organizations throughout Colorado that share the fund’s commitment to advancing equality and improving quality of life for people across the state. With more than $22 million of investments in arts and culture, public participation, healthy families, and public broadcasting programs, the fund maintains and enriches Colorado’s cultural heritage, strengthens the ability of Colorado families to thrive, and unlocks the leadership potential of our residents for a stronger democracy. The organization is headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado. More information can be found at www.gayandlesbianfund.org.