Our Fund Foundation, South Florida’s only LGBTQ community foundation, announced its LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Fund awarded a total of $317,000 in grants in support of innovative LGBTQ+-specific programs and initiatives in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.
Our Fund’s 2022 LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Fund earmarked grants ranging from $7,000 to $50,000, among 12 deserving South Florida nonprofits which provide targeted LGBTQ+ Youth, HIV/AIDS Services & Prevention, LBT Women and Transgender programs.
“Our Fund seeks to improve the quality of life for the local LGBTQ+ population through responsive, relevant, and impactful philanthropy and grantmaking,” said David Jobin, president & CEO of Our Fund Foundation. “We are fortunate to support these non-profits and provide much-needed financial assistance which addresses unique LGBTQ+ health risks and disparities.”
Our Fund Foundation’s 2022 Health & Wellness Fund Grant Recipients include:
LGBTQ Youth
Humanity Project – Beyond Don’t Say Gay
Beyond Don’t Say Gay will retool the acclaimed Antibullying Through The Arts & Humanity Club programs to specifically address sexual orientation and gender identity with cleverly designed in-school instruction that circumvents the Florida ban, even as our programs continue to prevent bullying.
National Voices for Equality, Education and Enlightenment – AFFIRM
AFFIRM supports South Florida’s diverse LGBTQIA+ youth through leadership and life skills development, mentorship, resources and family education.
YES Institute – Youth & Family Resilience Initiative
Direct service initiatives support youth acceptance and adjustment along with parents struggling with LGBTQ identity to prevent suicide and ensure healthy development.
EduPride – Health and Wellness Outreach- Mind, Body, and Heart
This project seeks to connect LGBTQIA+ school employees to mindfulness techniques, local health resources, and ongoing peer support activities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County – BIG Pride
BIG Pride is a one-on-one supervised mentoring program for LGBTQ youth, connecting young people to resources, and activities while building trusted support networks.
HIV/AIDS Services & Prevention
World AIDS Museum & Educational Center – Making It Real: Prevention Strategies for LGBTQ+ Youth
WAM will share HIV prevention practices using the performing arts to LGBTQ+ youth in South Florida.
Arianna’s Center – Accessible HIV Testing
This project is designed to make HIV testing more readily accessible to Black and Brown trans women in South Florida.
LBT Women
Gilda’s Club South Florida’s LBT Cancer Collaborative
GCSFL will expand outreach to raise awareness for cancer prevention and cancer support services to LBT individuals in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
Transgender
TRANSSocial – Trans Mental Health Program
The Trans Mental Health Program will remove systemic barriers to accessing gender-affirming, trauma-informed mental health services for TGNC clients.
TransInclusive Group – U-Matter Project 2022
The U-Matter project will address the HIV epidemic and the interrelated health problems and social determinants that impact the lives of people who embark on the trans experience.
Community Programs
Chainless Change – Peers Optimistically Working to End Recidivism (POWER)
Chainless Change’s LGBTQ peer support specialists will provide reentry planning and resources for justice-involved LGBTQ individuals with behavioral health conditions.
Maven Leadership Collective – Maven QTPOC Wellbeing Initiative
Maven provides free in-person and digital heart health activities and resources to improve health outcomes in queer and trans communities of color.
Grants from the 2022 LGBTQ Health & Wellness Fund were made possible by generous support from the following individuals, donor advised, and legacy funds at Our Fund Foundation: G Foundation, The Tuesday’s Angels Fund, The John D. Green & Jeffrey I. Sacks Charitable Fund, Dick Schwarz & Tom Massey, Michael H. Sporn, Scott L. Bennett, Doll/McNally Fund, John Pritchard’s Make Change Matter Fund, Steven W. Thornton and Bradley E. Coomer Charitable Fund, The Woodham-Ellis Charitable Fund, The Sherzum Fund and from Our Fund’s Endowment: Bill Beaton and Ted Emery Charitable Fund, Jim Laird’s Hamish’s Fund, Kay Maunsbach Charitable Fund, The Jack W. Huizenga Fund, The Fasana Education Fund, Stanley Roller Charitable Fund.
Our Fund Foundation will celebrate the donors and recipients and the impact they have on South Florida’s LGBTQ community during an upcoming socially distanced grant reception, to be announced.
