12 South Florida LGBTQ+ specific programs and initiatives received financial support
The Our Fund Foundation’s 2022 LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Fund Grant Recipients
The Our Fund Foundation awarded $317,000 in grants through its LGBTQ+ Health & Wellness Fund 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,
Jim Barber, David Jobin, CEO of Our Fund Foundation board member and Ken Flick, board member Our Fund Foundation
HIV/AIDS Services & Prevention, LBT Women and Transgender programs.
“The Our Fund Foundation exists to make South Florida the most livable and thriving place in the country for LGBTQ people through responsive, relevant, and impactful philanthropy and grantmaking,” said David Jobin, president & CEO of Our Fund Foundation. “It is our privilege to support these grantees which address unique LGBTQ+ health risks and disparities in impactful ways.”
Marq Mitchell, founder Chainless Change and Barb Signer, board member Our Fund Foundation
The Our Fund Foundation’s 2022 Health & Wellness Fund Grant recipients include:
LGBTQ Youth
Humanity Club/Antibullying Through The Arts
The Humanity Project’s acclaimed programs teach equality and respect for all people along with antibullying efforts in order to create a safe and supportive school environment for LGBTQ youth who are disproportionately bullied and harassed.
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.
Kim Saiswick, Morgan Mayfaire, and Ashley Mayfaire of TransSocial with Rudy Molinet
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.
Tim Wagoner, Eric Gilbert and Ayari Aguayo with the YES Institute – Youth & Family Resilience Initiative
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.
Chantal Manno, Tatiana Williams of TransInclusive Group and Jennifer Becker with Big Brother Big Sisters Broward
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.
Lorenzo Robertson and Nic Zantop, Deputy Director of TransInclusive Group
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.
Wilton Manors commissioner Don D’Armino and Terry Dyer, executive director World AIDS Museum
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.
Adam Young, Barb Signer, Scott Bennett and Sue Wilder, Our Fund Foundation board members
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.
Steve Thorton, Robert Grossman and Mark Blaylock, CFO Our Fund Foundation
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.
(Photo credit: Steven Shires Photography)
