Our Fund Foundation, South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation, announced its 2018 Fall Community Grant Program raised $120,500. Monies raised will be dispersed among 18 deserving non-profit organizations to fund proposed ideas, projects and programs advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

Our Fund Foundation will celebrate the recipients and impact they make within South Florida’s LGBT community during its annual grant reception on Tuesday, December 18 at 6 p.m. at the New River Fine Art Gallery, 822 E. Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale.

“Our Fund Foundation is extremely proud to support these exceptional organizations which benefit the LGBT community in so many diverse ways,” said David Jobin, president and CEO, Our Fund Foundation. “By inclusively uniting individuals, institutions and resources from throughout the region, we are able to fulfill our mission of making South Florida the most livable community in the country for LGBT people.”

Our Fund Foundation’s 2018 grant recipients include 18 non-profit organizations, representing eight categories.

YOUTH

1.Broward Education Foundation $7,500

Expanding Safe and Supportive School Environments for LGBTQ Youth

Support for two GSA Summits, and providing professional development for LGBT support staff.

2.Kids In Distress $5,000

LGBTQ Family Foster Recruitment

Increase recruitment of foster families from LGBTQ community through outreach and engagement.

3.Miami Children’s Museum $5,000

Rainbow Families Day 2019

Support for 5th Annual Rainbow Families Day

SENIORS

4.Alzheimer’s Association $10,000

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Initiative

Expansion of the Alzheimer’s caregiver initiative to enhance scope of services to support LGBT caregivers and loved ones.

5. SunServe $10,000 Sunset Rainbow Program Funding to continue the program that provides access to counseling, assistance and resources to LGBTQ senior adults in Broward County.

6.Sunshine Cathedral $7,500 Sunshine Cathedral Food Sharing Program Funding to expand Food Sharing program to deliver groceries along with meals for food insecure LGBTQ seniors.

WOMEN’S ISSUES

7.Pride Center $10,000 Enriching Women with Pride A healthcare initiative for LBTQ+ women.

8.Thinking Cap Theatre $5,000 I’m Coming: A Performance Project of Original “Coming Out” Plays by Women
Production of “coming out” plays by queer women.

9.Thou Art Woman $7,500 Thou Art Woman Series Continued expansion of an annual performance and visual art event celebrating queer women.

TRANSGENDER ISSUES

10.Aqua Foundation $5,000

TransCon

Support for the annual TransCon conference to bolster the stipend provided for presentations.

HIV/AIDS

11.Urban League of Broward County $5,0002019 Men’s Health and Wellness Conference Support for the Men’s Health and Wellness Conference featuring workshops and sessions on a variety of health issues affecting GBT men.

ARTS & CULTURAL

12.FAU Foundation/Theatre Lab $10,000

The Fair Play Initiative

A program to commission plays by emerging LGBTQ+ playwrights.

13.FIU Foundation/Frost Art Museum $5,000

Art after Stonewall Exhibition and Educational Programming

Support of educational programming inspired by the Art after Stonewall exhibition.

14.OUTShine Film Festival $8,000

Support for Fort Lauderdale Film Festival

Support to mitigate funding loss from State of Florida and Community Foundation of Broward.

ADVOCACY

15.Freedom Fund Network $5,000

Freedom Fund Bail and HIV/AIDS Jail Linkage and Prevention Program

Expand the capacity of the bail program targeting LGBTQ people and those living with HIV/AIDS.

16.Gulf Coast Jewish Family & Community Services $5,000

Creating a Welcoming Miami for LGBTQ Refugees & Immigrants

Development of four educational events throughout Miami-Dade and Broward to build inter-agency capacity on LGBTQ refugee issues.

17.Ujima $5,000 Ujima Men’s Collective An initiative to support black same gender loving men through workshops, community service, and an annual conference.

PETS

18.The Pet Project for Pet $5,000

Animal Wellness

A fund to help Pet Project clients’ pets with emergency health care.

TOTAL GRANTS $120,500

Applications were reviewed by Our Fund's Community Grant Review Committee, comprised of community volunteers and one Our Fund board member. Grants are approved by Our Fund Foundation's Board of Directors and are awarded twice annually.

Established in 2011, Our Fund Foundation has grown into the third largest LGBT foundation in the nation.As South Florida’s only LGBT community foundation, Our Fund promotes a culture of philanthropy by uniting donors with organizations advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties and supporting causes within the LGBT community.For more information on Our Fund Foundation visit our-fund.org or call 954-565-1090.