St. Pete Pride has established a new program that will support specific areas of the community’s LGBT population. By distributing annual funds to individual organizations through St. Pete Pride Community Grants, the 10-year-old organization aims to build upon existing LGBT resources in Tampa Bay.
“It’s our vision to build a stronger society marked by permanent, positive changes in attitudes and behaviors towards the LGBT community, as well as giving all LGBT individuals and organizations the ability to realize their fullest potential,” said Aaron Horcha, St. Pete Pride Board President. “To do this, we must empower the gay community by building stronger environments, healthier living, and more fulfilling lives. I believe we are accomplishing this through the new Community Grant program.”
The new grant program supports arts and recreation, education advocacy and outreach, health and community services and youth and family services.
Organizations applying for funding will have the opportunity to choose from two categories: General Operating Support and Event Support.
The General Operating Support category provides financial support to aid organizations who want to present or produce events or services establishing a nationally recognized environment that is welcoming to LGBTs and to meet the needs of the LGBT residents and visitors of Tampa Bay.
The Event Support Grant assists nonprofit organizations in producing and presenting a project in the annual St. Pete Pride Street Festival and Promenade, which is now called the St Pete Pride Carnivale. It’s an effort to contribute to making the event a more attractive Pride destination.
“It was a real exciting few months working with everyone creating this initiative,” said Eric Skains, St Pete Pride Executive Director. “I’m extremely proud of this project as it’s the first of its kind offered by Pride organizations in the United States. Often, we see Pride’s distribute leftover money from their events as we have done in the past. The problem is if the event hits financial troubles, there’s often nothing or little to give. We have created a foundation for LGBT organizations of Tampa Bay to rely on for years to come without the worry of the success or fail of a single day event.”
Awards will be given annually and offered to organizations within the seven counties of Tampa Bay whose purpose or initiative is to empower the LGBT community. General Operating Support grants will be awarded up to $5,000 per organization for a one-year period. Event Support Grants will be awarded up to $1,000 per project. When available, applications must be received by August 1, 2013 for funding to begin in October, 2013.
